CLIMATE CLASSIFICATION AND DROUGHT ANALYSIS OF MERSIN
CLIMATE CLASSIFICATION AND DROUGHT ANALYSIS OF MERSIN
Yazar: Çelik, Mehmet Ali; Gülersoy, Ali Ekber
Dergi: Manisa Celal Bayar Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi, Vol. 16 No. 1, 2017
Anahtar kelimeler: Mersin,Drought,PNI,SPI

Studies show that the southern regions of Turkey, within which also Mersinis located, would be greatly affected by possible climate change. According toa report published by NASA, the most severe droughts of the last 900 years arebeing witnessed in the Eastern Mediterranean Basin. In this context, the studyof the drought of Mersin in the Eastern Mediterranean Basin is of greatimportance. In this study, the drought analysis on, and the Thornthwaite climateclassification for Mersin and the surrounding area was carried out (1965-2014).The Standardized Rainfall Index (SPI), Normal Percentage Index (PNI) and ErinçDrought Index were used in our study. Drought analyses on monthly, annual andseasonal scales were carried out. According to the Erinç drought index, extremeclimatic conditions have been experienced frequently over the past 15 years.For example, the results of the SPI analysis show that there was a lack ofprecipitation in Mersin across all months of the year 2008. Again, 2009 becamethe driest year of the last 55 years. After 1968, the years 2001 and 2012 representthe most humid climatic conditions in Mersin. However there is a significantnegative trend, especially throughout the winter months. 2001 and 2012 havebeen the most humid periods in recent years. If the monthly SPI values of theseperiods have been examined, it can be seen that the humidity of 2001 originatedfrom heavy rainfalls which had occurred in December. The precipitation whichfell in December 2001 was the highest rainfalls the last 55 years. Anotherdrought index used in our study is PNI. The PNI was calculated using monthlyrainfall data of 1965-2014 belonging to the Mersin station. It is seen that PNIresults were consistent with those obtained from Erinç and SPI models. The year2008 is recorded as being arid according to the PNI analysis. According to thePNI analysis, the year 2008 was observably arid while moist conditions for theyear 2012 are worthy of note.

Studies show that the southern regions of Turkey, within which also Mersinis located, would be greatly affected by possible climate change. According toa report published by NASA, the most severe droughts of the last 900 years arebeing witnessed in the Eastern Mediterranean Basin. In this context, the studyof the drought of Mersin in the Eastern Mediterranean Basin is of greatimportance. In this study, the drought analysis on, and the Thornthwaite climateclassification for Mersin and the surrounding area was carried out (1965-2014).The Standardized Rainfall Index (SPI), Normal Percentage Index (PNI) and ErinçDrought Index were used in our study. Drought analyses on monthly, annual andseasonal scales were carried out. According to the Erinç drought index, extremeclimatic conditions have been experienced frequently over the past 15 years.For example, the results of the SPI analysis show that there was a lack ofprecipitation in Mersin across all months of the year 2008. Again, 2009 becamethe driest year of the last 55 years. After 1968, the years 2001 and 2012 representthe most humid climatic conditions in Mersin. However there is a significantnegative trend, especially throughout the winter months. 2001 and 2012 havebeen the most humid periods in recent years. If the monthly SPI values of theseperiods have been examined, it can be seen that the humidity of 2001 originatedfrom heavy rainfalls which had occurred in December. The precipitation whichfell in December 2001 was the highest rainfalls the last 55 years. Anotherdrought index used in our study is PNI. The PNI was calculated using monthlyrainfall data of 1965-2014 belonging to the Mersin station. It is seen that PNIresults were consistent with those obtained from Erinç and SPI models. The year2008 is recorded as being arid according to the PNI analysis. According to thePNI analysis, the year 2008 was observably arid while moist conditions for theyear 2012 are worthy of note.