The Effect of Climate, Precipitation Regime and Data Record Length on the Bhalme & Mooley Drought Index in Iran

Bhalme & Mooley Drought index is one of common indices used in drought studies. Due to the fact that drought indices can have different sensitivities to different region conditions and the length of data recorded, 62 synoptic and climatological stations were selected within a homogonous region to study this index advantages and to assess the effect of climate, precipitation regime, and data record on the index. The best results were found for the humid climate. Also, this index had acceptable results for semi- mediterranean regimes regarding all different time scales,; however the situation was different for Mediterranean regimes, showing the best results for the time scales simultaneous with the precipitation period. From the data record point of view, the best results were estimated during the first 31- years of the common period which has correspondence with the results of the 36-year period.