Analysis of the Role of Cyclones from Various Latitudes on Widespread and Heavy Precipitation in Iran in Recent Decades

Articles in Press

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 1-Professor of Climatology, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Kurdistan 2- Board Member of Department of Zrebar Lake Environmental Research,Kurdistan Studies Institute, University of Kurdistan

2 Department of Climatology, University of Kurdistan, Sanandaj, Iran

10.22034/gp.2026.70322.3481

Abstract

Situated within the global arid and semi-arid belt, Iran faces significant climatic challenges characterized by precipitation regime instability, heavy reliance on seasonal rainfall, and uneven spatial distribution of precipitation. Although intense and widespread precipitation events account for a modest proportion of the annual rainfall total, their importance is magnified by their dual role in water resource provision and the generation of destructive floods - constituting a hydrological paradox of equal measures of risk and resource. Research demonstrates that these extreme precipitation phenomena are primarily governed by cyclonic systems originating from diverse sources, including Mediterranean disturbances, Sudanese low-pressure systems, and Persian Gulf cyclones, which interact synergistically with dynamic atmospheric mechanisms and thermodynamic processes. Recent climate transformations have substantially altered the behavioral patterns of these meteorological systems, resulting in marked increases in both the intensity and frequency of extreme precipitation events. This research undertakes a comprehensive analysis of the spatiotemporal distributions and dynamic characteristics of cyclones influencing heavy precipitation events across Iran in recent decades, thereby addressing critical knowledge gaps and advancing the current understanding of extreme precipitation mechanisms in this vulnerable region.

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Journal of Geography and Planning

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 18 February 2026

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