Long-term atmospheric dynamics: air temperature inversion trends at King Abdulaziz Airport (Jeddah, Saudi Arabia), a high-traffic aviation center

Abstract

Temperature inversions, characterized by a temperature increase with altitude, significantly affect aviation operations, particularly in regions with meteorological conditions like Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. King Abdulaziz International Airport, a critical hub for pilgrims traveling to Mecca and Medina, experiences high traffic throughout the year, supporting Saudi Vision 2030′s goal of accommodating 30 million annual pilgrims by 2030. This study analyzes 15,432 inversion events from 1985 to 2023 using radiosonde data from the Saudi Bureau of Meteorology, evaluating their frequency, characteristics, and impacts on airport operations. Results show a marked increase in inversion frequency, with low-level inversions (≤1000 m) prevailing at night (81.25% of nighttime cases) and peaking in summer (850–866 cases, June–August), driven by radiative cooling and marine influences. High-level inversions (>1000 m) are more common during winter daytime, associated with subsidence and warm air advection. Mann-Kendall trend tests confirm a significant rise in nighttime low-level inversions at 2.48 cases per year (p < 0.05). These inversions are possibly to extend takeoff and landing distances, increase fuel consumption, and elevate risks of wind shear and reduced visibility, leading to flight delays. Jeddah’s coastal-desert environment intensifies these effects through sea-land breezes and dust events. This study addresses a critical research gap by providing Jeddah-specific insights, laying the groundwork for improved forecasting and operational strategies in a globally significant, consistently busy aviation hub.