Page 36 - Life & Land Use on the Bahrain Islands (Curtis E Larsen)

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August. The lowest average monthly temperatures (19.3°, 17.1°, 18.1°C) occur in
December, January, and February. Humidity is quite high. Die mean annual
maximum is 85%; June the driest month, with an average maximum of 80%
(Belgrave 1975). Although the climate is subtly affected by the vegetative cover of
some parts of the islands and the urban influences of others (M. Ayub, personal
communication), the restraint of climate is evenly felt throughout the islands.
At First examination, the physical restraints imposed on land use are well-
defined. The present population is left with few natural alternatives to the
restraints outlined by climate and geo morphology.

Other Processes Affecting the Modern Population

The manner in which a population utilizes its land is also influenced by ongoing
socioeconomic processes. In the case of Bahrain, recent population growth has
been relatively rapid, a 3.1% growth rate. Census data from 1941 to 1971 clearly
show the upward trend. Although these figures may not be wholly accurate
because of imperfect reporting measures, the growth shown in Table 1 is
unmistakable.

TABLE 1

POPULATION GROWTH BAHRAIN 1941-71

1941 1950 1959 1965 1971
Bahrainis 74,040 91,179 118,734 143,814 178,193
Non Bahrainis 15,930 18,471 24,401 38,389 37,885
Total 89,970 109,650 143,135 182,203 216,078

The demands placed upon the existing land are great. When the nonurban
population shown in Figure 2 is considered, one can envision the steady growth of
the major urban center of Manama westward and southward into the present