In-depth investigation of precipitation-based climate change and cyclic variation in different climatic zones

Climate change and cyclic variation are investigated based on station data of 61 years (1951–2011), representing twelve climatic zones in Iran. Climate change is investigated by applying the non-parametric Mann–Kendall test and the three-dimensional loglinear model to the12-month SPI time series, and by applying the likelihood ratio test to precipitation time series. Cyclic variation is studied by applying the three-dimensional loglinear model to the 12-month SPI time series. Analysis included entire data period, two sub-periods [(1951–1981), (1982–2011)] and three sub-periods [(1951–1971), (1972–1991), (1992–2011)]. The Mann–Kendall test results indicated combinations of different trend behaviors, whereby climate change could not be evaluated. The likelihood ratio test did not confirm climate change (at 95 % confidence level), in most of the studied stations. However, the more in-depth analysis by the three-dimensional loglinear model, i.e., detection of significant differences among drought frequencies, did not confirm climate change (at 95 % confidence level), in any of the studied stations. Cyclic variation was not confirmed by the three-dimensional loglinear model (at 95 % confidence level), in any of the studied stations. The findings of this research illustrate the need for meticulous techniques like the three-dimensional loglinear model, as a necessary tool for climate change and cyclic variation studies.