Distribution of Water Shortage and Soil Moisture Consumption (Case Study: Guilan Province)

Water shortage is considered a serious problem in many countries in the world. Even in other countries where there is a better climatic condition thanks to a higher precipitation rate, water shortage still exists in the months and seasons with high water needs. Iran is a country located on the dry belt of the earth, and water shortage can be sensed in it. Guilan Province is different from other provinces due to its special geographical and climatic condition, and especially its high precipitation rate, which is five times higher than the whole country's average. But the time and positional distribution of precipitation is not uniform, and it severely decreases in April by the movement of precipitation systems, and this trend continues until late August. Due to the variety of climates in Guilan, the precipitation rate, temperature and also evaporation rate which is a function of temperature have a great impact on water balance. On the other hand, soil is another essential source of life. The mutual effects of climatic elements especially rain and temperature, and the moisture capacity of the soil, are some of the topics related to water balance, water shortage and soil moisture consumption. In the present study, the statistical data related to precipitation and temperature obtained from six climatic stations including Anzali, Lahijan, Astara, Qale Rudkhan and Manjil that were picked out of thirteen stations were analyzed, and the annual water shortage average was calculated. Then the distribution of water shortage among the stations was determined using the GIS software and was presented in a map. The problems in agriculture, industries, urban and rural sections caused by water shortage can be found and solved more easily using a water shortage map.