A study of the Homogenous Rainfall Zones of Iran Using Cluster Analysis Based on TRMM Satellite Data

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Associate Professor of Climatology, Meybod University, Meybod, Iran.

2 PHD graduate of Climatology, Yazd University, Yazd, Iran.

3 PHD graduate of Climatology, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran

Abstract

This study aims to evaluate Spatio-temporal distribution of rainfall through cluster analysis based on Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) in Iran. To this purpose, the daily-gridded rainfall data were derived for the 1998-2013 period. Then, the seasonal and annual time scale cluster analysis was performed on TRMM-derived rainfall data. The results identified 14 clusters in the annual rainfall. As a high- rainfall zone, Guilan has an average rainfall of 1068 mm per year while Sistan, as a low-rainfall area, has an average rainfall of 106.8 mm annually. Furthermore, the seasonal rainfall distribution indicates high-rainfall zones in Guilan and Mazandaran provinces in spring, summer, and autumn while the areas in the southern range of Alborz Mountain and Persian Gulf are clustered as low-rainfall zone. The rainfall distribution in Iran is seasonal, and the following provinces are among the high-rainfall zones in winter: Kohgiluyeh and Boyer Ahmad, Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari, Khuzestan, and highlands of Lorestan. The low-rainfall areas also include Sistan and Baluchistan, Yazd, and Semnan.

Keywords

Journal of Hydrosciences and Environment
Volume 2, Issue 4
December 2018
Pages 26-32

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