Spatial and temporal variability of drought characteristics across Türkiye

The identification of drought characteristics and the observation of spatiotemporal changes within a region are instrumental in facilitating a comprehensive understanding of the prevailing drought conditions in that region. This study analyses spatiotemporal drought characteristics in Türkiye using the Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI) across short (1- and 3-month) and long (6-, 12-, and 24-month) time scales. Utilizing precipitation and temperature data from 140 meteorological stations, run theory was applied to calculate drought duration, severity, intensity, frequency, and peak events. The results reveal that drought conditions in Türkiye have significantly intensified since 2000, showing a marked shift toward more severe characteristics. Furthermore, drought averages increased notably as time scales extended. These findings suggest that the persistence of maximum drought events poses critical challenges for Türkiye’s future water resource management and utilization.