01.25.11
World Wide Weather #27: Istanbul, Turkey
This week’s post in the global weather and climate series features Istanbul, Turkey.
Montage of Istanbul, Turkey. Source: Wikipedia
Istanbul, formerly known as Byzantium and Constantinople, is situated on the Bosphorus Strait that runs from the Sea of Marmara to the Black Sea. The Bosphorus divides the city into a European and an Asian side, making Istanbul the only bi-continental city in the world. Istanbul also sits near the North Anatolian Fault, the boundary between the African and Eurasian plates. This fault has been responsible for several major earthquakes, including one in 1999 that killed over 17,000 people in and around Istanbul.
Istanbul’s rich history can be traced back to at least the 7th century BC. Istanbul, like Rome, has been called “The City of Seven Hills”, as the oldest part of the city is built on seven hills, each of which bears a historic, imperial mosque.
Istanbul and the surrounding area produce cotton, fruit, olive oil, silk, and tobacco. The city is the economic center of Turkey and an important city in the global economy. According to Forbes magazine, as of March 2008, Istanbul had 35 billionaires, ranking 4th in the world. With a population of about 12.8 million, Istanbul is the largest city in Turkey and the 5th largest city proper in the world.
A few more facts about Istanbul:
- Time zone: Eastern European Time (UTC+2) or Eastern European Summer Time (UTC+3)
- Average elevation: 121 feet (37 meters)
- Climate zone: Mediterranean
- Average high temperature: 66 °F (19 °C)
- Average low temperature: 51 °F (11 °C)
- Average annual high/low temperature range: 48 to 83 °F (9 to 29 °C) / 37 to 66 °F (3 to 19 °C)
- Average annual precipitation: 33 inches (844 mm)
Weather: It’s currently rainy and cool in Istanbul, with highs in the 40s and lows in the 30s. There is a trough over eastern Europe right now, with a surface low just southwest of Istanbul. This low will move up over Turkey, bringing a continued chance for rain.
500mb height and temperature forecast (initialized at 18Z on Monday) for Europe at 12Z, from Weather Online UK
Surface pressure forecast (initialized at 18Z on Monday) for Europe at 12Z, from Weather Online UK
For weather maps and information on current and forecast Istanbul weather, see the Turkish State Meteorological Service (there is an English version; see the top right of the page), Weather Underground, and Weather Online UK.
For more information on Istanbul, here’s a link to Wikipedia.
Next Tuesday we will take a look at the climate and weather in another part of the globe. As always, if you have any suggestions for future cities, please leave a comment!