Variability of the Precipitation and Its Connections with Dry Years in the Central Anatolia, Turkey

This study presents an evaluation of the variability of the precipitation and its connections with dry years in the Central Anatolia of Turkey, a semiarid region subjected to frequent and widespread drought events. The statistical parameters of major historical drought events in the region are determined. Annual and seasonal Box-plots of precipitations are used to determine the drought characteristics in the region. The spatial maps of precipitation deficits during the selected drought years are utilized for the assessment of areal impacts of droughts across the region. The hydrological response to droughts is investigated with the use of surface water data including streamflows and reservoir storages. The results of the study indicate that regional drought analysis can provide very useful information for drought mitigation and sustainable water resources management in the Central Anatolia Region.