Temporal Trends of Annual and Seasonal Precipitation Concentration Index

Abstract

Global warming and climate change have significant effects on precipitation regimes. As a result, natural disasters such as drought and flood occur in our country as in many parts of the world. As a consequence of climate change, a significant portion of the total annual precipitation falling in an area can fall in just a few days, causing rainfall erosivity and flooding in the relevant areas. These climatic events cause loss of life and property in various regions, but also cause negative effects on agriculture and water resources. Climate change and global warming also cause a great decrease in water resources. The decrease in water resources reaches dimensions that prevent sustainable life as well as environmental impact. Global warming, which directly and indirectly affects water resources, increases the importance of water and water resources day by day. Precipitation, which is one of the meteorological events most affected by climate change, has the most important role in recharging water resources. In this study, monthly total precipitation data for the period 1970-2019 of Adana station (Station No: 17351) located in the Seyhan Basin were used. Firstly, the precipitation concentration index values of the precipitation data used were calculated on the seasonal and annual scales. In addition, the temporal trend of both monthly and annual precipitation and the calculated annual and seasonal precipitation concentration index values of the precipitation data in the examined period were examined. The temporal variation of monthly and annual precipitation values and annual and seasonal precipitation concentration index values were assigned using the Mann-Kendall trend method. The obtained trend analysis results were evaluated at the 95% significance level. The calculated annual precipitation concentration index values show 28% moderate, 56% irregular and 16% strong irregular precipitation distribution. While an insignificant increase was obtained in the annual precipitation concentration index values calculated in the examined time period, insignificant negative trends were obtained in the seasonal precipitation concentration index values of the four seasons.