Overview of Drought & Climate Change Adverse Effects on Iranian Water Resources Management

Iran locates in an arid and semi-arid area, with an average of rainfall of 250 mm/year (around onethird the world average), is facing extremely shortage of water resources and inappropriate and unequal rainfall has intensified the existing conditions. Although climate change is seen in most of the world, but the presence of two high ranges of mountains in the north and west parts of the country have significant impacts. These mountains prevent the moisture-loaded atmosphere coming from, respectively, the Siberia and the Mediterranean Sea, from entering the centralplateau, and as a result decrease of rainfalls and drought occurrence in Iran, especially in the recent years, has been followed by more environmental impacts. In the recent years Iran has experienced the driest years during the last several decades. According to the recent statistical studies, the amount of decrease of rainfall in the country compared with average of the same period during 31 years, was up to 43%. The main objectives of this paper are to provide brief background information on Drought & Climate Change Adverse Effects on Iranian Water ResourcesManagement and to provide an overview of technical challenges in order to help improve planning and decision-making involved in the sustainable use of Water Resources in country.

کلیدواژه ها:

Climate Change ، The E & T Basin and MENA Region ، Environmental impacts ، Semi-Arid Area ، Adaptive Responses