A New Climatic Map of the Dominican Republic Based on the Thornthwaite Classification

Abstract

In this paper, we present the results of a climatic analysis based on 30-year (1971-2000) averages of precipitation and air temperature monthly data from 115 air temperature and precipitation stations of the National Meteorological Office and National Hydraulic Resources Institute of the Dominican Republic. The performed analysis provides a synthesis of the climate of the Dominican Republic, consistent with its orography and the atmospheric dynamics typical for the Caribbean region. According to the analysis, 54% of the Dominican territory can be classified as dry or semi-dry, and hence quite vulnerable to extensive or intensive land use practices, especially if inappropriate, with important implications in terms of water supplies, both for human consumption and for crop irrigation. This highlights the need to adopt appropriate policies to reduce vulnerability to climate change which, according to predictions, will lead to an increase in aridity.