Drought Zoning of Kermanshah Province Using CZI Index

Drought is one of the phenomena that has recently been identified as a major challenge , and has incurred a lot of damage in different parts of the world. The purpose of this study was to investigate and map drought in Kermanshah Province using the CZI index in ArcGIS for 1995-2016 using data from synoptic stations of Kermanshah, Kangavar, Sahneh, Harsin, Mahidshah, Sararood, Paveh, Ravansar, Saripul Zahab and Islamabad  Gharb. The results of this research indicate that 50 percent of the province's surface area during the 22 year period has experienced drought, with the most severe drought for Mahidshat and Saripul Zahab stations in 1999 with an index of -2.25 and -2.12 respectively. The least severe drought was observed in 2013 with an index of -0.22 for the Sahneh station. Also, in 1997 the highest rainfall was recorded for the Sarpul-e-Zahab station  with an index of 2.18 and the lowest was recorded in 2009 and 2011 at Mahidshat  and Saripul Zahab stations with equal indices of 0.01. According to the zoning maps, the region has experience 11 drought periods and five wet periods of varying severity.