Redefining the climate zones of Turkey using cluster analysis

Climate zones of Turkey are redefined by using the mathematical methodology of cluster analysis. Data from 113 climate stations for temperatures (mean, maximum and minimum) and total precipitation from 1951 to 1998 are used after standardizing with zero mean and unit variance, to confirm that all variables are weighted equally in the cluster analysis. Hierarchical cluster analysis is chosen to perform the regionalization. Five different techniques were applied initially to decide the most suitable method for the region. Stability of the clusters is also tested. It is decided that Ward's method is the most likely to yield acceptable results in this particular case, as is often the case in climatological research. Seven different climate zones are found, as in conventional climate zones, but with considerable differences at the boundaries.