| The Center East is really an area dominated by | | | | variable seasonally and inter-annually. |
| arid and semi-arid lands, with substantial places of | | | | Except from the southern part of the Arabian |
| extreme aridity. In the northern section of the | | | | Peninsula with summer time rains, precipitation |
| area, a steppe climate prevails, with cold winters | | | | occurs Within the Middle East during winter. The |
| and warm summers. A narrow zone contiguous | | | | summer dried out period lasts for 6-10 months |
| to the Mediterranean Sea is classified like a | | | | (UNEP, 1997). Average yearly rainfall ranges from |
| Mediterranean zone, with wet and moderately | | | | 0 mm to 200 mm, only within the north-western |
| comfortable winters and dry summers, whereas | | | | components along the Mediterranean Sea, down |
| the central and southern component using the | | | | from Turkey till Lebanon and also the northern |
| core of the Arabian peninsula is very dried out | | | | parts of Palestine and Jordan the values exceed |
| with very warm summers and moderate | | | | 500 mm and more. |
| temperatures in winter. | | | | There was no discernible trend in annual |
| Water is a very restricted resource. Droughts, | | | | precipitation throughout the last century (1901-99) |
| desertification, and drinking water shortages are | | | | for that area like a whole, nor in most parts from |
| permanent features of life in most of the | | | | the region-except in the south-western part of |
| countries within the area. Their native plants and | | | | the Arabian Peninsula, exactly where there was |
| animals are adapted to coping with sequences of | | | | an significant improve, nevertheless, in relation to |
| severe climatic problems. Across the Middle East, | | | | a very lower base rainfall. |
| summer temperatures are usually around 30° C, | | | | In typical with other countries in this drinking |
| but frequently soar above 40° C. | | | | water scarce region of the northern aridic belt the |
| In the Saudi desert, however, temperatures over | | | | Center East has chronic difficulties of drinking |
| 45° C are typical. During the summer, winds | | | | water resources. The area is facing a tremendous |
| blow unabated toward the warm interior from the | | | | imbalance between the available water means and |
| Arabian Peninsula, whereas in winter the winds in | | | | the demand,exactly where water shortage is |
| the south blow off the land. In northern regions, | | | | becoming of permanent nature. Due to its |
| continental winds brings some rain out for the | | | | scarcity drinking water is really a precious |
| coasts and the mountain ridges behind.Rainfall is | | | | resource that is of essential significance to the |
| low in most section of the area, but it's highly | | | | socio-economic improvement of the Middle East. |