Variability of Drought Frequency and Intensity in Iran using SPEI

In this study, the decade variability of frequency and severity of drought in Iran has been investigated. The one-month scale data from the standardized precipitation-evapotranspiration index (SPEI 01) in the period 1956 - 2015 have been used. Based on the common numerical thresholds, the characteristics of the frequency and severity of drought for each pixel have been calculated and they are the basis for the analysis of the drought situation. Then, the frequency of drought severity classes was calculated and its trend was investigated using the non-parametric Mann-Kendall test. The findings indicated the spatio-temporal variability of drought frequency and intensity patterns in Iran. The frequency of mild droughts has decreased from south to north and from east to west; while the frequency of more severe droughts has increased from north to south and from west to east. The frequency of mild droughts in the southeast, northwest, and northeast has increased by 5 to 40 percent. While the frequency of more severe droughts in most parts of Iran has increased between 10 and 20 percent. Variability in the frequency of more severe droughts is more pronounced in the Central Plateau catchment area as well as in the Persian Gulf-Oman Sea. The trend of drought intensity is decreasing (drought intensification) at the same time as the prevailing rainfall regime in Iran. A significant increase in drought intensity (wet season intensification) is observed only in southeastern Iran at the same time as the monsoon regime. However, extra-arid and arid regions of southeastern Iran are affected by the frequency and severity of drought and have a high degree of vulnerability.