The Climate of Israel

Reproductive cycle of free-living male Saharan sand vipers, Cerastes vipera (Viperidae) in the Negev desert, Israel

“…Summers are hot and dry lasting from June to September. The hottest month, August, has mean minimum and maximum air temperatures of 20.2 and 33.5°C, respectively [9]. The dominant vegetation is of the Saharo-Arabian type with the main plants in summer consisting of Artemesia monosperma, Stipagrosis scorpia, Convolvulus lanatus, Retama raetam, Stipa capersis, Hammada scorpia, Neurada procumbes and Noaea rucrorato.…”

Rainfall interception and spatial distribution of throughfall in a pine forest planted in an arid zone

“…The actual extent of the reduction in transpiration due to this process is as yet unclear, particularly in arid zones with Mediterranean climate, in which most of the rainfall occurs during the winter period and rainfall events are relatively short (Goldrich, 1998). Intercepted rainfall can therefore be regarded as a net loss to the ecosystem and plays thus an important role in determining the input of water to the forest (Chang, 2003).…”

Fruit trees’ survival ability in an arid desert environment without irrigation in the Negev Highlands of Southern Israel

“…The rainy season usually starts in November and ends in mid-April (Evenari et al 1971). The distribution of the precipitation is characterized by high irregularity, both between years and in their distribution within the rainy seasons (Goldreich 1998;Morin et al 1998). Most of the rains are local and therefore the affected area for each rainfall event is relatively small, frequently ranging over only a few square kilometers.…”

“…Most of the rains are local and therefore the affected area for each rainfall event is relatively small, frequently ranging over only a few square kilometers. Therefore, the efficiency of most of the events for the whole region is rather limited (Evenari et al 1971;Goldreich 1998).…”