GENERAL INFORMATION ------------------ 1. Dataset title: Dataset for defining Mediterranean Climate zones in the Iberian Peninsula using various climate indices 2. Authorship: Name: Celis, Alberto Institution: Universidad de Sevilla Email: pozuelo@us.es ORCID: 0000-0003-4324-5924 Name: Villarín, María C. Institution: Universidad de Sevilla Email: mvillarin@us.es ORCID: 0000-0001-9248-2964 DESCRIPTION ---------- 1. Dataset language: Español 2. Abstract: The interaction between sea and climate in the scientific literature about the Mediterranean has changed during the 20th century. In fact, a perceptual shift is observed if we delve into the different climatic classifications of the Mediterranean defined by climatologists and geographers. This study reviews the most important indices derived from the history of Mediterranean climatology, offering four maps that help visualize the evolution of conceptions of the Mediterranean climate. The State Meteorological Agency (AEMET). the Agroclimatic Information System for Irrigation (SIAR), the Portuguese Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Research (IPMA) and the Network of Automatic Meteorological Stations in Catalonia (XEMA) provide meteorological data (temperature, rainfall, evapotranspiration, and atmospheric pressure) which we have used as inputs for four different indices. We have retrieved REVIP records for the period 2000 to 2021 to study the spatial distribution of long-term precipitation. Finally, we have correlated the REVIP dataset with the North Atlantic Oscillation Index (NAOi) and the Western Mediterranean Oscillation Index (WeMOi). 3. Keywords: Mediterranean climate; REVIP; hydrological cycle; history of climatology; isotopic signature Clima Mediterráneo; REVIP; ciclo hidrológico; historia de la climatología; huella isotópica 4. Date of data collection (fecha única o rango de fechas): 01-01-2000/31-12-2021 5. Publication Date: 29-10-2024 6. Grant information: Grant Agency [Organismo financiador]: European Research Council (ERC) Grant Number [Código del proyecto]:ERC CoG DEEPMED-101002330 7. Geographical location/s of data collection: Iberia Peninsula ACCESS INFORMATION ------------------------ 1. Creative Commons License of the dataset: CC BY-NC-ND 2. Dataset DOI: https://doi.org/10.12795/11441/164275 3. Related publication: Celis, A & Villarín, M.C. (2024): A review of the Mediterranean climate (1902-2021): from analytical climatology to the isotopic signatures of precipitation in the Iberian Peninsula, Conference proceedings “Mediterranean Geosciences Union 2023”; Springer (in press) METHODOLOGICAL INFORMATION ----------------------- 1. Description of the methods used to collect and generate the data: We employ two chronological frameworks to offer a comprehensive view of the evolving perceptions of the Mediterranean climate. This approach allows us to draw on various historical indicators using contemporary databases. First, we conduct a diachronic investigation based on bibliographical references to gain insights into the evolving definitions of the Mediterranean climate from 1902 to 2021. Second, we visually represent this evolution through the creation of four maps derived from updated meteorological databases, with a specific focus on the Iberian Peninsula. The meteorological datasets from 2000 to 2021 are: the Spanish National Meteorological Agency (AEMET), the Agroclimatic Information System of Irrigation of Spain (SIAR), the Portuguese Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Research (IPMA) and the Network of Automatic Meteorological Stations in Catalonia, (XEMA). Based on literature from 1902 to 2021, we identify three existing indices and propose a novel one. We utilize meteorological data from the period 2000-2021 and the REVIP dataset (Red de Vigilancia de Isótopos en Precipitación) to create four maps (four shapefiles) of the Iberian Peninsula, each corresponding to one of these indices: - De Martonne index based on the average annual temperature and rainfall. The critical value of 10 is established and values between 10 and 20 indicate a Mediterranean climate. (Martonne, E. de.: Nouvelle carte mondial de l’indice d’aridité. Annales de géographie, 51(288), 241-250 (1942). - Mediterranean index calculated by summing the average potential evapotranspiration and the average precipitation during the summer (January, August, and September). The critical threshold of 2.5, and if this value is exceeded, it indicates a Mediterranean climate. Rivas-Martínez, S. Pisos bioclimáticos de España. Lazaroa, 5, 33-43(1983). - Index based on the subtraction between two Pearson's correlation coefficients (r): the North Atlantic Oscillation index (NAOi), such as the difference between the standardized values of surface air pressure values in Iceland (Reykjavik) and the south-western part of the Iberian Peninsula (Gibraltar); and the Western Mediterranean Oscillation index (WeMOi), such as the difference between San Fernando (Spain) and Padua (Italy), along with precipitation for October, November, December, January, February and March. The critical threshold of 0 is established, and values exceeding this threshold classify the climate as Mediterranean. (Martín‐Vide, J., & Lopez‐Bustins, J.: The western Mediterranean oscillation and rainfall in the Iberian Peninsula. International Journal of Climatology: A Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society, 26(11), 1455-1475 (2006). - Index based on tritium activity concentration in precipitation collected by REVIP. This system has been continuously operated since 2000, overseen by the Centre for Studies and Experiments in Public Works (CEDEX). This index is determined by calculating the first quartile of the distribution of tritium values for a specific meteorological station, with the critical threshold of 3.5. Exceeding this threshold indicates a Mediterranean climate. (Castaño, S., & Rodríguez-Arévalo, J.: Mapping environmental tritium activity concentration in recent precipita-tion to trace moisture sources in the hydrological cycle. In: International Symposium on Isotope Hydrology: Ad-vancing the Understanding of Water Cycle Processes, IAEA, Vienna (2019) 2. Data processing methods: Four shapefiles have been created from the data results using the meteorological stations as reference points. The limit of each shape file depends on whether each meteorological station is above or below the critical value of each index. 3. Software or instruments needed to interpret the data: QGIS 3.34.11-Prizren FILE OVERVIEW 1. Explain the file naming conversion, si es aplicable: The name is related to the aim of this investigation: the history of Mediterranean climate 2. File list: File name:Mediterranean_climate_history Description: Dataset for defining Mediterranean Climate zones in the Iberian Peninsula using various climate indices 4. File format: .gpkg