Evaluating Changes of Climate Indicators in The Past Decades Using the Papadakis Method in Iran

Articles in Press

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Department of Geography, Payam Noor University, Tehran, Iran.

2 Department of Geography and Tourism, University of Kashan

10.22034/gp.2026.66647.3387

Abstract

The aim of this research is to evaluate the change in Iran'sclimate indicators over two 30-year periods (1960-1990) and (1991-2020). In this study, statistics from 43 Iranian synoptic meteorological stations related to the climatic parameters of monthly mean maximum and minimum temperatures, mean temperature and precipitation were used. The indicators used were potential evapotranspiration, dry season length, middle season length, and wet season length. First, the data were qualitatively controlled. The run test was used for data homogeneity. Then, the Papadakis method was used to evaluate the change in Iran's climate indicators. The classification system invented by Papadakis is a type of system that tries to avoid the lack of accuracy in common climate classifications by creating smaller geographical units and providing greater climatic uniformity, and to determine the agricultural suitability of these units due to their smaller size. Papadakis has established 12 main and 40 sub-thermal regimes that are important from an agricultural perspective in his system. The types of thermal regimes depend on the summer and winter temperature conditions. Papadakis devised 14 moisture regimes defined by a moisture index and its annual distribution. The results of the Papadakis method showed that potential evapotranspiration and temperature in most climatic regions have increased and precipitation has decreased. The results of this study also showed that on average about 15 days have been reduced from the wet season and in contrast, 1 day has been added to the middle season and 14 days to the dry season. All studied stations were classified into 7 main climatic groups and 11 sub-categories, including Mediterranean desert, subtropical Mediterranean, subtropical semi-arid Mediterranean, Mediterranean semi-arid desert, desert desert, subtropical desert, and monsoon desert.

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Journal of Geography and Planning

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 22 March 2026

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