Study of the relationship between the some climate signals (SOI, NAO, MEI, NINO) and meteorological drought in Kerman province, Iran

Drought which causes great losses to human life and natural ecosystems occurs very frequently in Iran. In recent years, Kerman province, southeast of Iran has been severely affected by this phenomenon. The aim of this study is to assess the relation between climate signal and meteorological drought (lack of adequate rainfall) in this region. Climate signals, as indications of changes in ocean/atmosphere temperature and pressure, are one of the most influential parameters on global scale weather patterns. The effect of these signals on the spatial and temporal patterns of rainfall in a give region is quite important in drought monitoring studies. In this study the impact of climate signals MEI, NAO, NINO1, 2, NINO3, NINO3, 4, NINO4, SOI on rainfall in Kerman province has been studied. Monthly data of 64 rain gauges for 36 years period from 1970 onwards and corresponding values of mentioned signals for same period were retrieved and used. The Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) in 1, 3 and 12 month time scale were elaborated for drought monitoring. The correlation between climatic signals and SPI, were examined in six different cases (simultaneous and delayed phase). The results showed that MEI, NINO4, SOI have greatest impact on Kerman rainfall in different time scales, i.e. monthly seasonal and annual.