Spatial Distribution of Snowfall Days in Turkey

In observing the effects of global climate change on Turkey, it is important to determine the frequency of snowfall and its spatial distribution. This study concerns the spatial distribution of snowy days in Turkey utilizing measurements provided by the Turkish State Meteorological Service. The homogeneity of 217 station-specific and constructed data was analyzed using Kruskal-Wallis Test. The longest data sets are 75 years old covering the years 1932-2006 while the shortest is 25 year-old data covering 1982-2006. Figures were mapped with GIS taking the mean values and variability coefficients of the long-term data from the stations. The factors that affect spatial distribution and variance of snowfall days in Turkey are location, continentality, altitude and exposure. The snowfall observed in most of the northeast Anatolia stations decreases to the south and west. Due to local climatic conditions, snowy days increase in Edirne and Kastamonu, while Igdir and Malatya decrease towards the periphery. This introductory study on the climatology of snowfall days in Turkey is considered a guide for handling data, taking precautions, and creating solutions. The study’s findings will serve as a basis for interpreting the results of future studies.