Xerokampos Evidence for a localized hot desert microclimate enclave

Iason Chatzopoulos , Nikolaos Stavrakakis

This study investigates the spatial precipitation distribution and microclimatic characteristics of the coastal enclave of Xerokampos, Lasithi in Greece. Utilizing a local meteorological time series (2020-2026), the mean annual precipitation (MAP) is recorded at 219.5 mm, alongside a mean annual temperature of 20.9°C. To contextualize these limited contemporary observations, a synthetic climate reconstruction (1915-1929) and a 30-year ERA5 marine reanalysis (1996-2026) were applied, yielding MAP estimates of 171.2 mm and 227.1 mm, respectively. The region's aridity is quantified using multiple bioclimatic indices. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Aridity Index yields values of 0.178 (Holdridge) and 0.199 (Thornthwaite), both falling within the desert regime (<0.20). Additionally, the De Martonne Aridity Index ranges between 5.54 (synthetic) and 7.10 (contemporary), while the Köppen-Geiger desertification threshold is calculated at 209.0 mm. This persistent precipitation deficit is primarily driven by the rain shadow effect and dry adiabatic heating (Foehn effect) induced by the adjacent Ziros massif. Furthermore, the local bioclimatic stress is corroborated by the Sitia UNESCO Global Geopark, which classifies the coastal zone as semi-desert, hosting unique North African thermophilic flora. Integrating thermodynamic modeling with empirical indices, findings suggest that Xerokampos likely constitutes a structurally localized Hot Desert (Köppen: BWh) microclimate enclave.