Article: Historical extreme winters of Istanbul: the factors that contributed to severe winters during the 20th and 21st centuries Journal: International Journal of Global Warming (IJGW) 2023 Vol.29 No.4 pp.350 - 361 Abstract: In this study, the analysis of the extreme winters that occurred in Istanbul between the years 401-2022 was carried out. Until the 21st century, the extremely low temperatures and heavy snowfalls in the province sometimes lasted for days, sometimes for weeks, which adversely affected daily life and especially transportation. In the 21st century, snow depths measured between half a metre and 1 metre have been effective rather than low temperatures. By examining the extreme events that took place between the 18th and 21st centuries as reference, the statistics for the future occurrence of these events until 2050 and 2100 are presented. The most important factor in the occurrence of four events in only 22 years in the 21st century has been the positive trend in sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies. Inderscience Publishers - linking academia, business and industry through research

Title: Historical extreme winters of Istanbul: the factors that contributed to severe winters during the 20th and 21st centuries

Authors: Veli Yavuz; Mervegül Özdaş; Anthony R. Lupo; Neil I. Fox; Ali Deniz

Addresses: Department of Meteorological Engineering, Faculty of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Istanbul Technical University, ITU Maslak Campus, 34469 Maslak, Istanbul, Turkey; University of Missouri, 332 ABNR Building, Columbia MO 65211, USA ' University of Missouri, 332 ABNR Building, Columbia MO 65211, USA ' University of Missouri, 332 ABNR Building, Columbia MO 65211, USA ' University of Missouri, 332 ABNR Building, Columbia MO 65211, USA ' Department of Meteorological Engineering, Faculty of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Istanbul Technical University, ITU Maslak Campus, 34469 Maslak, Istanbul, Turkey

Abstract: In this study, the analysis of the extreme winters that occurred in Istanbul between the years 401-2022 was carried out. Until the 21st century, the extremely low temperatures and heavy snowfalls in the province sometimes lasted for days, sometimes for weeks, which adversely affected daily life and especially transportation. In the 21st century, snow depths measured between half a metre and 1 metre have been effective rather than low temperatures. By examining the extreme events that took place between the 18th and 21st centuries as reference, the statistics for the future occurrence of these events until 2050 and 2100 are presented. The most important factor in the occurrence of four events in only 22 years in the 21st century has been the positive trend in sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies.

Keywords: extreme winter; severe weather; snowfall; SST; sea surface temperature; extreme weather; Bosphorus; Golden Horn; Istanbul; Turkey; Black Sea.

DOI: 10.1504/IJGW.2023.130134

International Journal of Global Warming, 2023 Vol.29 No.4, pp.350 - 361

Received: 14 Apr 2022
Accepted: 05 Jul 2022
Published online: 05 Apr 2023 *

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Title: Historical extreme winters of Istanbul: the factors that contributed to severe winters during the 20th and 21st centuries

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