Meteorological parameters and land use changes in the industrial area of Thiriasio plain, Greece

Περίληψη

This paper investigates the relationship between Air Temperature, Precipitation and Relative Humidity, as well as the E de Martonne climatic aridity index, and land use changes in the industrial area of Thriasio Plain Greece, using 53 years of meteorological data (from 1958 to 2011). In order to examine the growth of the number of established activities over time and the consequent change in land use, a Verhulst equation model and two simple regression models were applied. Models results for established activities in the area were marked by a continuous growth, although the rate of growth varied among the different local authorities. In addition, what appears to a decisive factor in the evolution of activities and residential zones of the area is the land surface availability in each one of the local authorities. The results for the climatic index showed a trend towards characterizing the climate as warmer and drier. The latter conclusion is consistent with the intense land use change in the area of interest.