Spatiotemporal Changes in Precipitation Concentration Indicators Over Iran

This study was conducted to investigate the spatiotemporal variability in precipitation concentration over Iran. For that purpose, daily precipitation data with a spatial resolution of 0.25° × 0.25° from the Asfazari database for the period from 01/01/1962 to 31/12/2019 were used. Three indices including the precipitation concentration index (PCI), precipitation concentration period (PCP), and precipitation concentration degree (PCD) were utilized for examination of the variability in precipitation concentration over the country. The results demonstrated that the central, south-eastern, and eastern parts of the country exhibited maximum temporal precipitation concentration, while the least precipitation concentration could be observed over the Caspian coasts and the northern half of the country. The year 1998 was selected as the change point due to the considerable difference in the values of the examined indices, and the long-term statistical period was divided into two sub-periods before and after the change. During the sub-period after the change point (1999-2019), precipitation concentration has increased in the western, central, eastern, and south-eastern parts of Iran, according to PCI and PCD, and has decreased in the North and Northeast and along the northern coastline of Oman Sea. Furthermore, there have been great spatial differences in the period of occurrence of precipitation along the Northern coasts, according to PCP, varying from November, along the Caspian coasts, to August, along the northern foothills of Alborz Mountains. The PCP index has increased during the sub-period after the change point along the northern coastlines of Persian Gulf and Oman Sea and in parts of the North (along Alborz Mountains), indicating a shift in the period of precipitation from winter to the warm seasons of spring and summer. Moreover, the decrease in PCP in the Northwest and Northeast suggested that the period of occurrence of precipitation has shifted from the second half of winter toward early winter and late fall. After the year of change point, the frequency of rainy days and precipitation have decreased, and PCI and PCD have increased.