Case Studies - Coastal Lagoons: Ecosystem Processes and Modeling for Sustainable Use and Development - page 393

TABLE 9.3.1
Minimum and Maximum Value of Climatic Variables in the Mar Menor
Area (1981-1988)

Maximum Minimum

Monthly Rainfall 300 mm (November 1987) 0 mm (usually in March

and from June to August)

Evaporation 165.5 mm (May 1981) 50 mm (December 1987)

Solar radiation 280.9 h of sun (July 1981)

623 cal/cm 2 * day
(monthly mean, June
1987)

110 h of sun (December
1987) 195 cal/cm 2 * day
(monthly mean, January
1985)

Atmospheric
temperature (absolute
values)

37°C (August 1986) −3.4°C (January 1985)

Annual Rainfall 497.9 mm (1987) 113.5 mm (1983)

Evaporation 1442.9 mm (1981) 115.2 mm (1988)

Solar radiation 2344 h of sun (1985) 2053.8 h of sun (1982)

Source: Data from the San Javier Aerodrome Meteorological Station on the Mar Menor coast.
See Reference 13.

Precipitation

8

6

Underground
run-off

4

Evaporation

2

Outflow
from lagoon

Marine influx

River run-off

1970 1980 2000

FIGURE 9.3.5 Lagoon water budget rose (meters per year) for the Mar Menor. The diagram
represents the relative contribution of each water budget component to the lagoon volume
during the recent history of Mar Menor.