Abstract
Abstract. In this work, cluster and principal component analysis are used to divide Spain in a limited number of climatically homogeneous zones, based on seasonal rainfall for 32 Spanish localities for the period 1912–2000. Using the hierarchical technique of clustering Ward's method, three clusters have been obtained in winter and spring, and four clusters have been obtained in summer and autumn. Results are similar to those obtained by applying principal component analysis. Centroid series of each cluster and principal component series of each EOF have been compared to analyze the temporal patterns. The comparison of both methods indicates that cluster analysis is suitable to establish spatio-temporal patterns of seasonal rainfall distribution in Spain. Key words. Meteorology and atmospheric dynamics (climatology; precipitation; general or miscellaneous)
Highlights
The spatial grouping of observation sites is a common practice in climatology
We identify the location of the first major shelf in the eigenvalues (O’Lenic and Livezey, 1988), wherein the final shelf eigenvalue still accounts for more than 5% of the total unrotated data set variance
In principal component analysis (PCA), variables are assigned to groups according to their loading factor values
Summary
The spatial grouping of observation sites is a common practice in climatology. In general, such grouping provides a convenient way to summarize climatic data in a concise manner (DeGaetano, 2001). The step is to examine the n-1 group to determine if a third member should be linked with the first pair or another pairing made, in order to secure the optimum value of the objective function for n-2 groups This process continues until all stations are clustered in one group and all the climatic differences are concealed (Ahmed, 1997). A hierarchical technique of clustering (Ward’s method) is used to divide the Iberian Peninsula area in a limited number of climatically homogeneous zones based on the mFiegtueroero1logical variable of seasonal rainfall for 32 Spanish localities. In this study we selected the common period of timeseries (1912–2000) for all meteorological stations, to obtain a regionalization of seasonal rainfall distribution patterns in the Iberian Peninsula. Seasons considered here are winter (December–January–February), spring (March–April–May), summer (June–July–August), and autumn (September–October–November)
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