Spatial analysis of micro-climate regions in central Iran using statistical techniques

Authors

1 Tabriz University, Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Planning

2 Professor in Tabriz University

3 Tabriz University, Faculty of Geography and Environmental Planning

Abstract
The coverage of topographic features and natural surfaces are the most imperative factors affecting the climate and the type of it in any geographical area. On the other hand, the climatic conditions of each land play vital role on human, animal and plant distribution. Therefore, any activity or planning in various fields such as economics, agriculture, industry etc., cannot be achieved without the recognition of climatic features. Due to the extent of Central Iran, there is a great variety of climates in these regions. In this research, principal components and cluster analyses were used through the application of GIS to identify the micro-climate regions in this area. For this purpose, from 7 central Iran's meteorological stations 5 weather data have been selected in a 30-year statistical period (1987-2016). Proportional to the distance of the station and replacement, the selected variables, dimensions on 15×15 Km grid were extended on central Iran. Using the Kriging method, values of 5 variables were estimated. To reduce the dimensions of the data matrix, component analysis through Varimax rotation  and cluster analysis method was applied to determine the micro-climate regions, and maps were drawn using GIS. The results of this research showed that central Iran's micro-climate regions are made up of four components, namely humidity, sunny hours, precipitation and cloudy days, which form 0.75% of the variance of the primary variables. In the division of the central parts of Iran's climate the main characteristic is the importance of precipitation, humidity, cloudiness and sunny hours. Cluster analysis was performed on the variables under consideration and based on factor eign values, in Central Iran there are four micro-climatic regions.

Keywords