Climate vulnerability index fluctuation: a case of Iran

Abstract

Abstract Climatic fluctuations have severe effects on water and soil resources and economy as a whole. It is hence important to study the fluctuations of climatic parameters in different regions in order to recognize the source and type of parameter that have led to fluctuating climatic parameters. To achieve this goal, the current study attempts to address the following issues: what are the different sources of fluctuations in climate parameters? Do different regions have the same degree of vulnerability and what is the most fluctuating parameter in each region? To answer these questions, the study suggests climate vulnerability index fluctuation. Calculating the index requires data provided by weather stations, so 115 weather stations were divided into 12 climatic zones based on the availability of data. This index considered permanent and frequent temperature, precipitation, storm and aridity shocks. The results indicated that the maximum rank of index has occurred in hot semi-mountainous and very hot desert. Also, temperature fluctuation was the major factor in five regions, whereas wind fluctuation was the major factor in three regions. Generally, the northern and western parts of the country experienced minimum climatic changes. Moving towards southern regions of the country, more climatic changes were observed.