Spatial evaluation of climate change-induced drought characteristics in different climates based on De Martonne Aridity Index in Iran

Abstract In recent years, greenhouse gas emissions have caused extensive changes in the global climate. Climate change leads to extreme events, such as droughts. The present study investigates precipitation and temperature variations past future drought characteristics Iran through data from 40 synoptic stations 33 general circulation models (GCMs) under RCP4.5 RCP8.5 scenarios. As a first step, country of was classified into different climatic regions based on De Martonne aridity index. GCMs were ranked using TOPSIS four an ensemble top ten used each region. Furthermore, homogeneity monthly studied baseline periods. Meteorological calculated standardized index (SPI), deriving severity, peak, duration run theory. results revealed that will reduce periods majority south southeast increase northwest north Iran. highest severity peaks occur semi-arid arid regions, while longest happen west Overall, droughts are found higher duration, peaks, standard deviation than period. Also, showed reducing trend SPI values northwestern other indicated no significant trend.