**2.2 Climate**

The climate in Jordan is characterized by a long, dry, hot summer, and a rainy winter. The temperature increases towards the south, with the exception of some southern highlands. Rainfall varies considerably with location, due mainly to the country's topography. Annual rainfall ranges between 50 mm in the eastern and southern desert regions to 650 mm in the northern highlands. Over 90% of the country receives less than 200 mm of rainfall per year, and 70% receives less than 100 millimeters per year. Figure 3 represents spatial variation of rainfall in Jordan.

Long term average annual rainfall for the country as a whole gives a total volume of 8352 million cubic meter (MCM). The minimum value of annual rainfall registered was 4802 MCM at the water year 1946/1947and the maximum annual value registered was 17797 MCM at the water year 1966/1967. Approximately 92.48% of the rainfall evaporates back to the atmosphere, the rest flows in rivers and wadis as flood flows and recharges groundwater. Groundwater recharge amounts to approximately 5.16 % of the total rainfall volume, and surface water amounts to approximately 2.36% of total rainfall volume. (Ministry of Water and Irrigation records)
