Determining the Drought Areas in Order to Assess the Status of Water Crisis Using SPI and Cluster- Distance Based Analysis: A Case Study of Kerman Province, Iran

Droughts have made human life face crisis more than other events in recent years. Awareness of drought can substantially decrease the dangers resulting from this phenomenon including the water crisis. Therefore، the current study analyzes the rainfall condition in Kerman province، drought characteristics، classification of widespread droughts and finally determination of regions with similar aspects using distance based analysis. To do this، we have used statistical methods of rainfall standard scales and cluster- distance based analysis. After evaluating of different methods، Ward and Euclidean distance methods selected to determine cluster numbers and distance as the most suitable methods respectively. Finally، four clusters were identified with an acceptable percentage of similarity. The first cluster is seen as a separate area in western part of the province and the second one in western، south western and eastern parts. The third cluster is the most widespread one involving a larger part of the province and the forth cluster is seen in western parts of the area. Based on the results، in terms of frequency of droughts، second، third، fourth and first clusters have priority of risk of droughts and water crisis، respectively.