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Insights into climate variability of the meteorological records from a background monitoring station: the Giordan lighthouse, Gozo

List of Authors

  1. James Ciarlo` ,  
  2. Ryan Vella
    ,  
  3. Martin Saliba
    ,  
  4. Raymond Ellul
    ,  
  5. Alfred Micallef
    ,  
  6. Erika Coppola
    ,  
  7. Aaron Micallef
    ,  
  8. David Mifsud
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Abstract

Background

The Maltese islands are subject to significant climate variability, with implications for ecosystems and human activities. This study leverages a 26-year dataset from the Giordan Lighthouse Background Monitoring Station (GL) on the island of Gozo to analyse short-term climate variability and its alignment with broader regional trends.

Methods

Hourly meteorological data collected from 1997 to 2022, including wind speed, wind direction, air temperature, relative humidity, and air pressure, were analysed. The study examined diurnal and annual cycles, probability distribution functions, and climate indices to characterise local climate dynamics. Comparisons were made to existing findings based on the Malta International Airport dataset to validate results.

Results

The analysis revealed pronounced seasonal variability in all parameters. Rising air temperatures were detected, consistent with regional warming trends. Humidity and wind conditions showed seasonal shifts aligning with observations from other regional monitoring stations. The high-resolution dataset also captured fine-scale temporal patterns, reinforcing the critical value of localised, long-term meteorological monitoring for understanding climatic shifts.

Conclusions

This study underscores the value of long-term meteorological datasets in detecting climate variability and trends, including a clear warming pattern and seasonal shifts in temperature, humidity, and wind conditions. Continuous monitoring and improved data reliability are essential for enhancing climate assessments and supporting effective adaptation strategies in the Maltese Islands.

Corresponding author
James Ciarlo`
0000-0002-9341-8603
Grant information

This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 101062427 (PALEOclimate modelling of Small Islands in the Mediterranean and possible impacts on arthropod habitats [PALEOSIM]). The meteorological data used in this study was partly acquired with equipment funded by the ERDF 078 in 2008-2010, “Upgrading of Giordan Lighthouse Global Atmospheric Watch (GAW) Research Station”.

The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.

Copyright
© 2025 James Ciarlo` (Corresponding Author, Co-Author); Ryan Vella (Co-Author); Martin Saliba (Co-Author); Raymond Ellul (Co-Author); Alfred Micallef (Co-Author); Erika Coppola (Co-Author); Aaron Micallef (Co-Author); David Mifsud (Co-Author) Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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Authors & roles

James Ciarlo`

Institute of Earth Systems, University of Malta, Msida, Malta

Earth System Physics Section, Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics, Trieste, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy

Roles
Corresponding Author, Co-Author, Conceptualization, Data Curation, Formal Analysis, Funding Acquisition, Investigation, Methodology, Project Administration, Software, Visualization, Writing – Original Draft Preparation, Writing – Review & Editing
0000-0002-9341-8603

Ryan Vella

Atmospheric Chemistry Department, Max Planck Institute for Chemistry, Mainz, Germany

Institute for Atmospheric Physics, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany

Roles
Co-Author, Formal Analysis, Investigation, Methodology, Software, Validation, Writing – Review & Editing

Martin Saliba

Department of Geosciences, University of Malta, Msida, Malta

Roles
Co-Author, Data Curation, Writing – Review & Editing

Raymond Ellul

Department of Geosciences, University of Malta, Msida, Malta

Roles
Co-Author, Data Curation, Funding Acquisition, Writing – Review & Editing

Alfred Micallef

Department of Geosciences, University of Malta, Msida, Malta

Roles
Co-Author, Data Curation, Methodology, Writing – Review & Editing

Erika Coppola

Earth System Physics Section, Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics, Trieste, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy

Roles
Co-Author, Conceptualization, Supervision, Writing – Review & Editing

Aaron Micallef

Department of Geosciences, University of Malta, Msida, Malta

Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute, Moss Landing, California, USA

Roles
Co-Author, Conceptualization, Supervision, Writing – Review & Editing

David Mifsud

Institute of Earth Systems, University of Malta, Msida, Malta

Roles
Co-Author, Conceptualization, Supervision, Writing – Review & Editing

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