An Assessment of Temporal and Spatial  Distribution of Thunder Storms in Iran

Gholam Abbas Fallah Ghalhari; Fahimeh Shakeri

doi:10.4236/jgis.2015.72009

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An Assessment of Temporal and Spatial Distribution of Thunder Storms in Iran ()

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DOI: 10.4236/jgis.2015.72009 2,432 Downloads 2,954 Views Citations

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Gholam Abbas Fallah Ghalhari^*, Fahimeh Shakeri

Affiliation(s)

Faculty of Geography and Environmental Sciences, Hakim Sabzevari University, Sabzevar, Iran.

ABSTRACT

The main purpose of this study is to investigate temporal and spatial distribution of thunderstorm frequency in Iran. In order to do study, observed statistical data of the present weather codes of thunderstorm (17, 29, 91 - 99) in 50 synoptic stations around the country were used in a 35 years statistic period (1979-2013). The results of the study showed that the phenomenon occurs mostly in southwest, west and northwest regions of Iran. Thunderstorm occurrence reduces when moving toward east. Maku station in northwest of Iran shows the maximum thunderstorm frequency during the statistical period (mean annual of 31). Jask station in southern Iran (mean annual of 2) has shown minimum thunderstorm occurrence during the statistical period. In the eastern regions of Iran, Torbat Heydarieh station revealed higher frequency than the other stations which was because of high mountains like Qaenat. In terms of temporal distribution, spring showed the highest frequency of the phenomenon. In monthly scale, the maximum frequency of hail downfall happens in April and May. In hourly scale, the maximum occurrence of thunderstorm observed at 12 - 18 p.m. for UTC time.

KEYWORDS

Thunderstorm, Temporal and Spatial Distribution, Present Weather Codes, Iran

Cite this paper

Ghalhari, G. and Shakeri, F. (2015) An Assessment of Temporal and Spatial Distribution of Thunder Storms in Iran. Journal of Geographic Information System, 7, 95-109. doi: 10.4236/jgis.2015.72009.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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