Investigating the Impact of Climate Differences on Seasonal and Annual Precipitation Changes and Fluctuations in Iran

Document Type : Applied Article

Authors

Amir Hossein Karimi Khalilabad

Abolfazl Mosaedi

Syyed Mohammad Reza Naghedifar

Department of Water Science and Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran

https://doi.org/10.22067/jwsd.v12i3.2506-1434

Abstract

In this study, changes and fluctuations in annual and seasonal precipitation in Iran over a 60-year period (1961 to 2020) were investigated with the aim of investigating the impact of climate differences on the trend of annual and seasonal precipitation changes. Precipitation data from 33 synoptic stations in the country, representing diverse climates, were analyzed in two 30-year and one 60-year periods, at both annual and seasonal scales. The nonparametric Mann-Kendall test and the Sen’s-slope method were used to assess the trend of changes and the intensity of changes. The results showed that annual and seasonal precipitation in most climates lacked a significant long-term trend. In the first period, the largest number of stations (9stations) with a significant decreasing trend at the 95 % level was observed in the spring (with an average of -1.320 mm/year). While in the second period, the largest number of stations (7stations) with a significant decreasing trend was observed in the winter season (with an average of -1.054 mm/year). While in the summer and autumn seasons in the second period, no significant trend was observed in any station. The average annual rainfall during the 60-year statistical period of the studied stations is decreasing by about -0.65 mm/year. While the trend of annual rainfall decrease is statistically significant only at the level of 5 stations. Considering the fluctuations or heterogeneous changes in rainfall in different seasons and climates, the necessity of paying attention to local, seasonal and climatic characteristics of rainfall in water resources and agricultural planning is emphasized.

Keywords

Precipitation Reduction

Precipitation

Mann-Kendall Test

Sen’s Slope

Iran

Subjects

• Surface and Groundwater Resources

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