Skip to main content
Log in

Estimation of the monthly and annual mean maximum and mean minimum air temperature values in Greece

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Meteorology and Atmospheric Physics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In this study, regression equations to estimate the monthly and annual values of the mean maximum and mean minimum air temperatures in Greece are derived. For this purpose, data from 87 meteorological stations distributed all over Greece are used. Geographical parameters, i.e., altitude, latitude, longitude, minimum distance from the sea and an index of terrain morphology, are used as independent variables. These equations explain 79–97% of the variance of the temperature values and have standard error of estimate between 0.59 and 1.20°C. Data from 37 other meteorological stations are used to validate the accuracy of the equations. Topographic or climatic factors, which could not be introduced into the equations, are responsible for most temperature residuals >0.5°C or <−0.5°C. Moreover, some particular emphasis has been given to the values of the regression coefficient for the altitude, since it is the estimator for the mean lapse rate of air temperature.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Andreakos K (1978) Climatic elements of 86 meteorological stations of the Hellenic network. Period 1930–1975. Studies of the Hellenic National Meteorological Service, Athens (in Greek)

    Google Scholar 

  • Balafoutis C (1977) Contribution to the study of climate in Macedonia and Thrace. PhD thesis, Fac Phys and Math, University of Thessaloniki (in Greek)

  • Critchfield H (1983) General climatology, 4th edn. Prentice-Hall, New Jersey

    Google Scholar 

  • Dimopoulos P (1993) Floristic and phytosociological research of Mount Killini—an ecological approach. PhD thesis. University of Patras (in Greek)

  • Draper N, Smith H (1981) Applied regression analysis, 2nd edn. John Wiley and Sons, Inc, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Flocas AA, Giles BD, Angouridakis VE (1983) On the estimation of annual and monthly mean values of air temperature over Greece, using stepwise multiple regression analysis. Arch Meteorol Geophys Bioclimatol Ser B 32:287–295

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liakatas A, Dimitropoulos P (1987) Contribution to the study and the forecast of frost. Studies of National Meteorological Service, No 13, Athens (in Greek)

  • Makris G (1954) On the variation of air temperature with altitude in some parts of Greece. PhD thesis, Fac Phys and Math, University of Athens (in Greek)

  • Mariolopoulos I (1960) Climatic elements of the Hellenic network. National Observatory of Athens (in Greek)

  • Mariolopoulos I, Zambaka S, Repapis H (1987) The climate of Magouliana of Arcadia. Publication of Research Center for Atmospheric Physics and Climatology, Academy of Athens (in Greek)

    Google Scholar 

  • Minoglou D (2000) The flora of the university forest of Pertouli, Trikala. PhD thesis, Forest Department, University of Thessaloniki (in Greek)

  • Nahal I (1981) The Mediterranean climate from a biological viewpoint. Ecosystems of the World. 11, Elsevier. Ed. pp 63–86

  • Sánchez Palomares O, Sánchez Serran F, Carretero Carrero MP (1999) Modelos y cartografia de estimaciones climáticas termopluviométricas para la Espaňa Peninsular. Ministerio de Agricultura, Pesca y Alimentación

  • Stathis D (1998) Meteorological features of Pindos from hydrological point of view. PhD thesis, Forest Department University of Thessaloniki (in Greek)

  • Woo Mk, Waylen PR (1985) Macro-scale estimation of evaporation from regional water balance. Hydrol Sci J 30:383–394

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zheng XG, Basher RE (1996) Spatial modelling of New Zealand temperature normals. Int J Climatol 16:307–319

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to H. D. Kambezidis.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Gouvas, M.A., Sakellariou, N.K. & Kambezidis, H.D. Estimation of the monthly and annual mean maximum and mean minimum air temperature values in Greece. Meteorol Atmos Phys 110, 143–149 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00703-010-0111-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00703-010-0111-y

Keywords

Navigation