Bayer-Altin, TurkanTurkes, MuratAltin, Bekir Necati2024-11-072024-11-0720230033-45531420-9136https://doi.org/10.1007/s00024-023-03321-yhttps://hdl.handle.net/11480/14827In this study, drought climatology and drought variability in the continental semi-arid and dry sub-humid Central Anatolia Region were analyzed using the annual and seasonal precipitation totals, Aridity Index (AI) and Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI), along with the long-term trends in their time-series. Trends in precipitation totals, 12-month SPI and annual AI series were statistically determined by applying the Mann-Kendall rank correlation test (M-K test) and its sequential analysis. The climatological probability of drought and wet events was evaluated according to different classes in the region. Annual AI values indicate that dry sub-humid climate was dominant from the mid-1990s to mid-2000s, and then semi-arid conditions were dominant from the mid-2000s to recent years. The climatological probability of monthly SPI values being severely dry is dominant mostly in the semi-arid and dry sub-humid central, south and east districts of the region. According to the M-K test, statistically significant decreasing trends were determined for annual total precipitation and the 12-month SPI series in Keskin, Pinarbasi, Sariz, urgup and Aksehir. Nonsignificant and statistically significant decreasing trends in spring precipitation were determined at approximately 67% of the stations and at Ilgaz, Kulu, Eskisehir, Keskin, Zara, urgup and Sariz stations, respectively. With respect to the desertification in the Central Anatolia Region, the most vulnerable subregions for desertification processes are the Konya subregion and the Upper Kizilirmak subregion, mainly characterized by semi-arid and dry sub-humid environmental conditions.eninfo:eu-repo/semantics/closedAccessCentral Anatoliadroughtprecipitationtrend analysisaridity indexstandardized precipitation indexArticle18083105312910.1007/s00024-023-03321-y2-s2.0-85165319718Q2WOS:001034671500001Q2