Synoptic Analysis of Flood Generating Systems in the Southern Part of Iran

Flood is one of the most destructive natural disasters that have historically done considerable harm to humans. Unfortunately nowadays despite great technological improvements, there is still no acceptable prevention method for this natural phenomenon. This is mainly due to lack of knowledge or the limited facility in this field. The main aim of this article is to recognize the patterns of synoptic systems leading to the torrential rainfall in the south of Iran in order to predict the showers that lead to floods. These patterns also helps the better use of the torrential rainfall. Twenty major flood events were selected according to the high discharge, the daily rainfalls, and the related damages. The synoptic maps were investigated and were classified into four different groups regarding their arrangement, patterns, extensions, and the movement directions. With synoptic analysis of severe storms that lead to heavy rains and torrential rainfall, we could realize that these storms are mainly caused (influenced) by strengthening the center of Sudan heat low and Red Sea convergence zone. We also showed that sometimes these storms are caused by simultaneous merging of the Sudan heat low system and the Mediterranean frontal system changing into a dynamic or thermodynamic system.