Classification of Spatio-Temporal Pattern of Rainfall in Iran Using A Hierachical and Divisive Cluster Analysis

SOLTANI KOPAEI S., Modaress R ,Journal of Spatial Hydrology, Vol. 6, No. 2, PP. 1-12

Abstract:

The identification of spatial rainfall pattern is an essential task for hydrologists, climatologists as
well as regional and local planners and managers. This is due to the variability of both the
temporal spatial distribution of rainfall. In this study, a hierarchical and divisive cluster analysis
was used to categorize these patterns of rainfall in Iran. According to results obtained, there are
eight main spatial groups of annual rainfall over Iran. These groups can be classified into 3 main
seasonal rainfall regimes namely, winter, winter-spring and fall regimes. The results also show
that the elevation and sea neighborhood affect rainfall pattern of Iran. Moreover, a comparison
between the Ward and average methods of hierarchical cluster analysis indicates that the Ward
method performs the spatial pattern better.