Climate Change Chart of Nouakchott, Mauritania

Overview of climate changes

Temperature changes

Monthly mean temperature was higher on average across calendar months in the more recent period, with a difference of +1.18 °C compared with the earlier reference period. This is an unweighted mean of monthly means, not a day-weighted annual average, and it describes the overall monthly pattern rather than daytime maximum temperatures. The largest monthly increase was in January, at +2.04 °C. That marks the strongest increase among the reported monthly differences, not a measure of daytime highs.

Changes in rainfall

Mean daily rainfall showed a small increase averaged across calendar months: the difference was +0.02 mm/day compared with the earlier reference period. This is an unweighted average of monthly means, not a day-weighted annual average or a monthly rainfall total. The monthly pattern was not uniform. In July, mean daily rainfall had its largest increase, a difference of +0.21 mm/day; in October, it had its largest decrease, a difference of -0.22 mm/day. These are differences in daily mean amounts for the respective months, not monthly totals.

Changes in sunshine duration

Mean daily sunshine duration was lower on average across calendar months, with a difference of -0.43 hours/day compared with the earlier reference period. This unweighted mean summarizes the monthly means and should not be read as a day-weighted annual figure or as a change occurring in every month. The largest monthly decrease in mean daily sunshine duration was in July, with a difference of -0.86 hours/day. This identifies the strongest reported monthly decrease rather than implying the same change across the year.