| |
Continent | Asia |
---|---|
Region | West Asia [1] [2] [3] |
Coordinates | 32°00'N, 53°00'E |
Area | Ranked 17th |
• Total | 1,648,195 km2 (636,372 sq mi) |
• Land | 99.27% |
• Water | 0.73% |
Coastline | 2,815 km (1,749 mi) |
Borders | Total land borders: 5,894 km (3,662 mi) Afghanistan: 921 km (572 mi) Armenia: 44 km (27 mi) Azerbaijan (proper): 432 km (268 mi) Azerbaijan (Nakhchivan exclave): 179 km (111 mi) Iraq: 1,599 km (994 mi) Pakistan: 909 km (565 mi) Turkey: 534 km (332 mi) Turkmenistan: 1,148 km (713 mi) |
Highest point | Mount Damavand 5,610 m (18,406 ft) |
Lowest point | Caspian Sea −28 m (−91.9 ft) |
Longest river | Karun |
Largest lake | Lake Urmia |
Exclusive economic zone | 168,718 km2 (65,142 sq mi) |
Geographically, the country of Iran is located in West Asia and the bodies of water the nation borders are the Caspian Sea, Persian Gulf (Arabian Gulf), and Gulf of Oman. Topographically, it is predominantly located on the Iranian/Persian plateau, Its mountains have impacted both the political and the economic history of the country for several centuries. The mountains enclose several broad basins, on which major agricultural and urban settlements are located. Until the 20th century, when major highways and railroads were constructed through the mountains to connect the population centers, these basins tended to be relatively isolated from one another.
Typically, one major town has dominated each basin, and there were complex economic relationships between the town and the hundreds of villages that surrounded it. In the higher elevations of the mountains rimming the basins, tribally organized groups practiced transhumance, moving with their herds of sheep and goats between traditionally established summer and winter pastures. There are no major river systems in the country, and historically transportation was by means of caravans that followed routes traversing gaps and passes in the mountains. The mountains also impeded easy access to the Persian Gulf and the Caspian Sea.
With an area of 1,648,195 square kilometres (636,372 sq mi), Iran ranks seventeenth in size among the countries of the world. Iran shares its northern borders with several post-Soviet states: Armenia, Azerbaijan, [a] and Turkmenistan. These borders extend for more than 2,000 kilometres (1,200 mi), including nearly 650 kilometres (400 mi) of water along the southern shore of the Caspian Sea. Iran's western borders are with Turkey in the north and Iraq in the south, terminating at the Arvand Rud.
The Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman littorals form the entire 1,770-kilometre (1,100 mi) southern border. To the east lie Afghanistan on the north and Pakistan on the far south. Iran's diagonal distance from Azerbaijan in the northwest to Sistan and Baluchestan province in the southeast is approximately 2,333 kilometres (1,450 mi).
The topography of Iran consists of rugged, mountainous rims surrounding high interior basins. The main mountain chain is the Zagros Mountains, a series of parallel ridges interspersed with plains that bisect the country from northwest to southeast. Many peaks in the Zagros exceed 3,000 metres (9,843 ft) above sea level, and in the south-central region of the country there are at least five peaks that are over 4,000 metres (13,123 ft).
As the Zagros continue into southeastern Iran, the average elevation of the peaks declines dramatically to under 1,500 metres (4,921 ft). Rimming the Caspian Sea littoral is another chain of mountains, the narrow but high Alborz Mountains. Volcanic Mount Damavand, 5,610 metres (18,406 ft), located in the center of the Alborz, is not only the country's highest peak but also the highest mountain on the Eurasian landmass west of the Hindu Kush.
The center of Iran consists of several closed basins that collectively are referred to as the Central Plateau. The average elevation of this plateau is about 900 metres (2,953 ft), but several of the mountains that tower over the plateau exceed 3,000 metres (9,843 ft). The eastern part of the plateau is covered by two salt deserts, the Dasht-e Kavir (Great Salt Desert) and the Dasht-e Lut. Except for some scattered oases, these deserts are uninhabited.
Parts of northwestern Iran are part of the Armenian highlands, which adjoins it topographically with other parts of neighbouring Turkey, Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia. [4]
Iran has only two expanses of lowlands: the Khuzestan Plain in the southwest and the Caspian Sea coastal plain in the north. The former is a roughly triangular-shaped extension of the Mesopotamia plain and averages about 160 kilometres (99 mi) in width. It extends for about 120 kilometres (75 mi) inland, barely rising a few meters above sea level, then meets abruptly with the first foothills of the Zagros. Much of the Khuzestan plain is covered with marshes.
The Caspian plain is both longer and narrower. It extends for some 640 kilometres (400 mi) along the Caspian shore, but its widest point is less than 50 kilometres (31 mi), while at some places less than 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) separate the shore from the Alborz foothills. The Persian Gulf coast south of Khuzestan and the Gulf of Oman coast have no real plains because the Zagros in these areas come right down to the shore.
There are no major rivers in the country. Of the small rivers and streams, the only one that is navigable is the 830 kilometres (520 mi)-long Karun, which shallow-draft boats can negotiate from Khorramshahr to Ahvaz, a distance of about 180 kilometres (110 mi). Other notable rivers include the Karkheh, spanning 700 kilometres (430 mi) and joining the Tigris; and the Zayandeh River, which is 300 kilometres (190 mi) long. Several other permanent rivers and streams also drain into the Persian Gulf, while a number of small rivers that originate in the northwestern Zagros or Alborz drain into the Caspian Sea.
On the Central Plateau, numerous rivers—most of which have dry beds for the greater part of the year—form from snow melting in the mountains during the spring and flow through permanent channels, draining eventually into salt lakes that also tend to dry up during the summer months. There is a permanent salt lake, Lake Urmia (the traditional name, also cited as Lake Urmiyeh, to which it has reverted after being called Lake Rezaiyeh under Mohammad Reza Shah), in the northwest, whose brine content is too high to support fish or most other forms of aquatic life. There are also several connected salt lakes along the Iran-Afghanistan border in the province of Baluchestan va Sistan.
Iran's highlands are home to some of the world's most unexpected glaciers. Their appearance in the dry environment is advantageous for those who depend on glacial ice as a supply of fresh water. In an expedition, Klaus Thymann together with the environmental charity Project Pressure produced a series of archive and expedition photographs that depict the urgency of the situation surrounding climate change and the individuals who rely on such natural ice forms to sustain life in remote areas. [5]
A recent global remote sensing analysis suggested that there were 1,481 km2 of tidal flats in Iran, making it the 22nd ranked country in terms of tidal flat area. [6]
Iran has a diverse climate. In the northwest, winters are cold with heavy snowfalls and sub-freezing temperatures. Spring and fall are relatively mild, while summers are dry and hot. In the south, winters are mild and summers are very hot, with average daily maximum temperature exceeding 38 °C (100.4 °F) in the month of July. On the Khuzestan Plain, summer heat is accompanied by high humidity.
In general, Iran has a temperate climate in which most of the relatively scant annual precipitation falls from October through April. In most of the country, yearly precipitation averages 400 millimetres (15.7 in) or less. The major exceptions are the higher mountain valleys of the Zagros and the Caspian coastal plain, where precipitation averages at least 600 millimetres (24 in) and is in the form of snow at high altitudes. In the western part of the Caspian, rainfall exceeds 1,500 millimetres (59 in) annually and is distributed relatively evenly throughout the year. This contrasts with some basins of the Central Plateau that receive 100 millimetres (4 in) or less of precipitation. Iran is considered colder than neighboring countries such as Iraq and Turkmenistan, due to its higher elevation.
Caspian mild and wet Caspian mild Mediterranean with spring rains Mediterranean Cold mountains Very cold mountains Cold semi-desert Hot semi-desert Dry desert Hot dry desert Hot coastal dry Coastal dry |
Climate data for Tehran Mehrabad – Altitude: 1190.8 m (1951–2010) | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Record high °C (°F) | 19.6 (67.3) | 23.0 (73.4) | 29.4 (84.9) | 33.4 (92.1) | 37.0 (98.6) | 41.0 (105.8) | 43.0 (109.4) | 42.0 (107.6) | 38.0 (100.4) | 33.4 (92.1) | 26.4 (79.5) | 21.0 (69.8) | 43.0 (109.4) |
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 7.9 (46.2) | 10.6 (51.1) | 15.7 (60.3) | 22.2 (72.0) | 28.0 (82.4) | 34.0 (93.2) | 36.7 (98.1) | 35.7 (96.3) | 31.6 (88.9) | 24.5 (76.1) | 16.3 (61.3) | 10.1 (50.2) | 22.8 (73.0) |
Daily mean °C (°F) | 3.8 (38.8) | 6.0 (42.8) | 10.7 (51.3) | 16.8 (62.2) | 22.1 (71.8) | 27.5 (81.5) | 30.3 (86.5) | 29.5 (85.1) | 25.5 (77.9) | 19.0 (66.2) | 11.6 (52.9) | 5.9 (42.6) | 17.4 (63.3) |
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −0.4 (31.3) | 1.4 (34.5) | 5.7 (42.3) | 11.4 (52.5) | 16.3 (61.3) | 21.1 (70.0) | 24.0 (75.2) | 23.4 (74.1) | 19.4 (66.9) | 13.5 (56.3) | 6.8 (44.2) | 1.8 (35.2) | 12.0 (53.7) |
Record low °C (°F) | −15.0 (5.0) | −13.0 (8.6) | −8.0 (17.6) | −4.0 (24.8) | 2.4 (36.3) | 5.0 (41.0) | 14.0 (57.2) | 13.0 (55.4) | 9.0 (48.2) | 2.8 (37.0) | −7.0 (19.4) | −13.0 (8.6) | −15.0 (5.0) |
Average precipitation mm (inches) | 34.6 (1.36) | 33.2 (1.31) | 39.6 (1.56) | 31.9 (1.26) | 14.8 (0.58) | 3.0 (0.12) | 2.2 (0.09) | 1.7 (0.07) | 1.2 (0.05) | 10.7 (0.42) | 26.1 (1.03) | 33.7 (1.33) | 232.7 (9.18) |
Average precipitation days | 9.0 | 8.6 | 10.7 | 10.8 | 8.8 | 3.1 | 2.1 | 1.3 | 1.1 | 5.3 | 7.2 | 8.6 | 76.6 |
Average snowy days | 5.1 | 2.9 | 1.1 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.4 | 2.7 | 12.3 |
Average relative humidity (%) | 64 | 56 | 47 | 40 | 33 | 25 | 26 | 26 | 27 | 36 | 49 | 62 | 41 |
Mean monthly sunshine hours | 168.8 | 179.8 | 203.0 | 220.6 | 287.0 | 346.3 | 345.9 | 333.6 | 302.8 | 249.9 | 202.9 | 168.9 | 3,009.5 |
Average ultraviolet index | 2 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 5 |
Source 1: Iran Meteorological Organization (records), [7] (temperatures), [8] (precipitation), [9] (humidity), [10] (days with precipitation), [11] | |||||||||||||
Source 2: Weather Atlas (UV), [14] |
Climate data for Tehran-Shomal (north of Tehran), altitude: 1549.1 m, from 1988–2010. | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Record high °C (°F) | 17.2 (63.0) | 21.2 (70.2) | 29.0 (84.2) | 32.4 (90.3) | 33.6 (92.5) | 39.2 (102.6) | 40.4 (104.7) | 39.6 (103.3) | 36.2 (97.2) | 31.2 (88.2) | 23.6 (74.5) | 19.6 (67.3) | 40.4 (104.7) |
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 6.1 (43.0) | 8.6 (47.5) | 13.8 (56.8) | 20.0 (68.0) | 25.5 (77.9) | 31.6 (88.9) | 34.4 (93.9) | 33.6 (92.5) | 29.5 (85.1) | 22.8 (73.0) | 14.5 (58.1) | 8.6 (47.5) | 20.8 (69.4) |
Daily mean °C (°F) | 2.3 (36.1) | 4.4 (39.9) | 9.2 (48.6) | 14.9 (58.8) | 19.8 (67.6) | 25.6 (78.1) | 28.5 (83.3) | 27.6 (81.7) | 23.4 (74.1) | 17.2 (63.0) | 9.9 (49.8) | 4.8 (40.6) | 15.6 (60.1) |
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −1.5 (29.3) | 0.2 (32.4) | 4.6 (40.3) | 9.8 (49.6) | 14.2 (57.6) | 19.7 (67.5) | 22.6 (72.7) | 21.6 (70.9) | 17.3 (63.1) | 11.7 (53.1) | 5.3 (41.5) | 0.9 (33.6) | 10.5 (51.0) |
Record low °C (°F) | −13.0 (8.6) | −11.0 (12.2) | −8.0 (17.6) | −1.6 (29.1) | 3.0 (37.4) | 12.0 (53.6) | 15.4 (59.7) | 13.5 (56.3) | 8.8 (47.8) | 2.6 (36.7) | −5.2 (22.6) | −9.6 (14.7) | −13.0 (8.6) |
Average precipitation mm (inches) | 61.9 (2.44) | 68.3 (2.69) | 73.9 (2.91) | 53.2 (2.09) | 24.0 (0.94) | 4.9 (0.19) | 3.8 (0.15) | 2.5 (0.10) | 3.8 (0.15) | 18.4 (0.72) | 41.5 (1.63) | 64.3 (2.53) | 420.5 (16.54) |
Average precipitation days | 12.3 | 10.9 | 12.3 | 10.0 | 8.9 | 3.3 | 3.4 | 1.6 | 1.3 | 5.8 | 8.6 | 10.7 | 89.1 |
Average snowy days | 8.9 | 6.6 | 2.5 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.6 | 4.9 | 23.7 |
Average relative humidity (%) | 67 | 59 | 53 | 44 | 39 | 30 | 31 | 31 | 33 | 44 | 57 | 66 | 46 |
Mean monthly sunshine hours | 135.8 | 146.4 | 185.1 | 215.0 | 274.6 | 322.8 | 331.8 | 327.5 | 292.6 | 245.5 | 171.5 | 135.8 | 2,784.4 |
Source: [15] |
Climate data for Mashhad (1951–2010, extremes 1951–2010) | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Record high °C (°F) | 20.0 (68.0) | 22.0 (71.6) | 28.0 (82.4) | 30.4 (86.7) | 35.2 (95.4) | 38.6 (101.5) | 43.8 (110.8) | 40.4 (104.7) | 38.0 (100.4) | 33.8 (92.8) | 28.4 (83.1) | 22.2 (72.0) | 43.8 (110.8) |
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 6.1 (43.0) | 7.3 (45.1) | 12.2 (54.0) | 17.9 (64.2) | 24.8 (76.6) | 30.3 (86.5) | 32.4 (90.3) | 31.1 (88.0) | 25.9 (78.6) | 20.5 (68.9) | 13.5 (56.3) | 8.1 (46.6) | 21.2 (70.2) |
Daily mean °C (°F) | 1.7 (35.1) | 3.7 (38.7) | 8.5 (47.3) | 14.7 (58.5) | 19.6 (67.3) | 24.4 (75.9) | 26.6 (79.9) | 24.8 (76.6) | 20.3 (68.5) | 14.5 (58.1) | 8.7 (47.7) | 4.0 (39.2) | 14.3 (57.7) |
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −5.8 (21.6) | −4.3 (24.3) | 2.9 (37.2) | 6.4 (43.5) | 10.4 (50.7) | 14.4 (57.9) | 16.7 (62.1) | 14.5 (58.1) | 9.7 (49.5) | 4.4 (39.9) | −1.9 (28.6) | −3.7 (25.3) | 7.3 (45.1) |
Record low °C (°F) | −27.0 (−16.6) | −32.0 (−25.6) | −13.0 (8.6) | −7.0 (19.4) | −1.0 (30.2) | 4.0 (39.2) | 10.0 (50.0) | 5.0 (41.0) | −1.0 (30.2) | −8.0 (17.6) | −16.0 (3.2) | −25.0 (−13.0) | −32.0 (−25.6) |
Average precipitation mm (inches) | 32.6 (1.28) | 34.5 (1.36) | 55.5 (2.19) | 45.4 (1.79) | 27.2 (1.07) | 4.0 (0.16) | 1.1 (0.04) | 0.7 (0.03) | 2.1 (0.08) | 8.0 (0.31) | 16.1 (0.63) | 24.3 (0.96) | 251.5 (9.90) |
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) | 5.6 | 5.8 | 8.2 | 6.8 | 4.5 | 1.1 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.5 | 1.5 | 2.9 | 4.2 | 41.6 |
Average snowy days | 5.6 | 5.8 | 4.0 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 1.2 | 3.8 | 20.9 |
Average relative humidity (%) | 75 | 73 | 69 | 62 | 50 | 37 | 34 | 33 | 37 | 49 | 63 | 73 | 54 |
Mean monthly sunshine hours | 148.3 | 147.5 | 163.3 | 200.4 | 280.4 | 343.2 | 366.9 | 359.7 | 305.2 | 249.5 | 188.3 | 151.6 | 2,904.3 |
Source: Iran Meteorological Organization (records), [16] (temperatures), [17] (precipitation), [18] (humidity), [19] (days with precipitation), [20] |
Climate data for Isfahan (1961–1990, extremes 1951–2010) | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Record high °C (°F) | 20.4 (68.7) | 23.4 (74.1) | 29.0 (84.2) | 32.0 (89.6) | 37.6 (99.7) | 41.0 (105.8) | 43.0 (109.4) | 42.0 (107.6) | 39.0 (102.2) | 33.2 (91.8) | 26.8 (80.2) | 21.2 (70.2) | 43.0 (109.4) |
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 8.8 (47.8) | 11.9 (53.4) | 16.8 (62.2) | 22.0 (71.6) | 28.0 (82.4) | 34.1 (93.4) | 36.4 (97.5) | 35.1 (95.2) | 31.2 (88.2) | 24.4 (75.9) | 16.9 (62.4) | 10.8 (51.4) | 23.0 (73.4) |
Daily mean °C (°F) | 2.7 (36.9) | 5.5 (41.9) | 10.4 (50.7) | 15.7 (60.3) | 21.3 (70.3) | 27.1 (80.8) | 29.4 (84.9) | 27.9 (82.2) | 23.5 (74.3) | 16.9 (62.4) | 9.9 (49.8) | 4.4 (39.9) | 16.2 (61.2) |
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −2.4 (27.7) | −0.2 (31.6) | 4.5 (40.1) | 9.4 (48.9) | 14.2 (57.6) | 19.1 (66.4) | 21.5 (70.7) | 19.8 (67.6) | 15.1 (59.2) | 9.3 (48.7) | 3.6 (38.5) | −0.9 (30.4) | 9.4 (48.9) |
Record low °C (°F) | −19.4 (−2.9) | −12.2 (10.0) | −8.0 (17.6) | −4.0 (24.8) | 4.5 (40.1) | 10.0 (50.0) | 13.0 (55.4) | 11.0 (51.8) | 5.0 (41.0) | 0.0 (32.0) | −8.0 (17.6) | −13.0 (8.6) | −19.4 (−2.9) |
Average precipitation mm (inches) | 17.1 (0.67) | 14.1 (0.56) | 18.2 (0.72) | 19.2 (0.76) | 8.8 (0.35) | 0.6 (0.02) | 0.7 (0.03) | 0.2 (0.01) | 0.0 (0.0) | 4.1 (0.16) | 9.9 (0.39) | 19.6 (0.77) | 112.5 (4.43) |
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) | 4.0 | 2.9 | 3.8 | 3.5 | 2.0 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.8 | 2.2 | 3.7 | 23.5 |
Average snowy days | 3.2 | 1.7 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 1.9 | 7.8 |
Average relative humidity (%) | 60 | 51 | 43 | 39 | 33 | 23 | 23 | 24 | 26 | 36 | 48 | 57 | 39 |
Mean monthly sunshine hours | 205.3 | 213.3 | 242.1 | 244.5 | 301.3 | 345.4 | 347.6 | 331.2 | 311.6 | 276.5 | 226.1 | 207.6 | 3,252.5 |
Source 1: NOAA [23] | |||||||||||||
Source 2: Iran Meteorological Organization (records) [24] [25] |
Climate data for Karaj (1985–2010) | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Record high °C (°F) | 18.2 (64.8) | 19.8 (67.6) | 27.4 (81.3) | 33.0 (91.4) | 34.6 (94.3) | 39.2 (102.6) | 42.0 (107.6) | 40.2 (104.4) | 37.2 (99.0) | 31.8 (89.2) | 25.0 (77.0) | 20.0 (68.0) | 42.0 (107.6) |
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 6.1 (43.0) | 9.0 (48.2) | 14.2 (57.6) | 20.7 (69.3) | 26.2 (79.2) | 32.6 (90.7) | 35.2 (95.4) | 34.5 (94.1) | 30.4 (86.7) | 23.5 (74.3) | 15.1 (59.2) | 8.9 (48.0) | 21.4 (70.5) |
Daily mean °C (°F) | 1.8 (35.2) | 4.1 (39.4) | 8.7 (47.7) | 14.5 (58.1) | 19.2 (66.6) | 24.6 (76.3) | 27.1 (80.8) | 26.8 (80.2) | 22.9 (73.2) | 17.1 (62.8) | 9.9 (49.8) | 4.6 (40.3) | 15.1 (59.2) |
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −2.5 (27.5) | −0.7 (30.7) | 3.2 (37.8) | 8.4 (47.1) | 12.2 (54.0) | 16.5 (61.7) | 19.0 (66.2) | 19.1 (66.4) | 15.3 (59.5) | 10.8 (51.4) | 4.8 (40.6) | 0.3 (32.5) | 8.9 (48.0) |
Record low °C (°F) | −19.0 (−2.2) | −15.6 (3.9) | −10.5 (13.1) | −3.5 (25.7) | −0.4 (31.3) | 7.2 (45.0) | 10.6 (51.1) | 12.0 (53.6) | 7.0 (44.6) | −0.5 (31.1) | −6.0 (21.2) | −14.6 (5.7) | −19.0 (−2.2) |
Average precipitation mm (inches) | 30.8 (1.21) | 32.1 (1.26) | 45.4 (1.79) | 39.1 (1.54) | 19.5 (0.77) | 2.7 (0.11) | 3.0 (0.12) | 1.2 (0.05) | 1.6 (0.06) | 15.1 (0.59) | 27.7 (1.09) | 33.5 (1.32) | 251.7 (9.91) |
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) | 6.3 | 5.7 | 6.7 | 5.8 | 3.7 | 1.0 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 3.2 | 4.8 | 5.8 | 44.3 |
Average snowy days | 5.4 | 3.7 | 1.9 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 2.7 | 14.3 |
Average relative humidity (%) | 67 | 60 | 53 | 48 | 43 | 34 | 35 | 34 | 36 | 44 | 56 | 66 | 48 |
Mean monthly sunshine hours | 166.3 | 169.7 | 197.4 | 218.1 | 280.7 | 335.2 | 341.5 | 340.1 | 304.2 | 250.1 | 187.2 | 156.8 | 2,947.3 |
Source: Iran Meteorological Organization (records), [26] (temperatures), [27] (precipitation), [28] (humidity), [29] (days with precipitation and snow), [30] (sunshine) [31] |
Climate data for Shiraz (1961–1990, extremes 1951–2010) | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Record high °C (°F) | 22.4 (72.3) | 24.0 (75.2) | 30.6 (87.1) | 34.0 (93.2) | 38.6 (101.5) | 42.0 (107.6) | 43.2 (109.8) | 42.0 (107.6) | 39.0 (102.2) | 34.4 (93.9) | 28.4 (83.1) | 23.2 (73.8) | 43.2 (109.8) |
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 12.1 (53.8) | 14.7 (58.5) | 18.9 (66.0) | 23.8 (74.8) | 30.6 (87.1) | 36.1 (97.0) | 37.8 (100.0) | 37.0 (98.6) | 33.7 (92.7) | 27.8 (82.0) | 20.5 (68.9) | 14.4 (57.9) | 25.6 (78.1) |
Daily mean °C (°F) | 5.3 (41.5) | 7.7 (45.9) | 11.8 (53.2) | 16.2 (61.2) | 22.5 (72.5) | 27.7 (81.9) | 29.8 (85.6) | 28.7 (83.7) | 24.5 (76.1) | 18.4 (65.1) | 11.7 (53.1) | 6.8 (44.2) | 17.6 (63.7) |
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −0.4 (31.3) | 1.2 (34.2) | 4.8 (40.6) | 8.5 (47.3) | 13.2 (55.8) | 17.1 (62.8) | 19.9 (67.8) | 18.8 (65.8) | 14.1 (57.4) | 8.8 (47.8) | 3.8 (38.8) | 0.5 (32.9) | 9.2 (48.6) |
Record low °C (°F) | −14.0 (6.8) | −8.0 (17.6) | −4.0 (24.8) | −2.0 (28.4) | 3.0 (37.4) | 9.0 (48.2) | 14.0 (57.2) | 12.0 (53.6) | 1.0 (33.8) | 1.6 (34.9) | −8.0 (17.6) | −11.0 (12.2) | −14.0 (6.8) |
Average precipitation mm (inches) | 79.8 (3.14) | 49.8 (1.96) | 48.4 (1.91) | 30.6 (1.20) | 6.6 (0.26) | 0.2 (0.01) | 1.0 (0.04) | 0.1 (0.00) | 0.0 (0.0) | 5.2 (0.20) | 20.7 (0.81) | 63.2 (2.49) | 305.6 (12.03) |
Average rainy days | 8.7 | 7.9 | 7.9 | 6.4 | 2.1 | 0.2 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 1.2 | 3.7 | 7.2 | 46.6 |
Average snowy days | 1.5 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.6 | 2.7 |
Average relative humidity (%) | 65 | 58 | 51 | 46 | 32 | 22 | 24 | 24 | 26 | 34 | 48 | 61 | 41 |
Mean monthly sunshine hours | 217.0 | 218.5 | 236.2 | 247.7 | 324.1 | 357.8 | 344.6 | 329.7 | 318.0 | 297.7 | 238.3 | 216.2 | 3,345.8 |
Source 1: NOAA [32] | |||||||||||||
Source 2: Iran Meteorological Organization (records) [33] [34] |
Climate data for Tabriz (1951–2010, extremes 1951–2010) | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Record high °C (°F) | 16.0 (60.8) | 19.0 (66.2) | 25.6 (78.1) | 31.2 (88.2) | 33.8 (92.8) | 39.0 (102.2) | 42.0 (107.6) | 41.0 (105.8) | 38.0 (100.4) | 30.6 (87.1) | 23.4 (74.1) | 21.8 (71.2) | 42.0 (107.6) |
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 2.3 (36.1) | 4.9 (40.8) | 10.6 (51.1) | 17.0 (62.6) | 22.8 (73.0) | 28.8 (83.8) | 32.8 (91.0) | 32.7 (90.9) | 28.3 (82.9) | 20.7 (69.3) | 12.0 (53.6) | 5.2 (41.4) | 18.2 (64.8) |
Daily mean °C (°F) | −1.7 (28.9) | 0.5 (32.9) | 5.6 (42.1) | 11.5 (52.7) | 16.7 (62.1) | 22.1 (71.8) | 26.0 (78.8) | 25.9 (78.6) | 21.4 (70.5) | 14.5 (58.1) | 7.1 (44.8) | 1.2 (34.2) | 12.6 (54.7) |
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −5.7 (21.7) | −3.9 (25.0) | 0.6 (33.1) | 6.0 (42.8) | 10.7 (51.3) | 15.4 (59.7) | 19.3 (66.7) | 19.1 (66.4) | 14.5 (58.1) | 8.4 (47.1) | 2.1 (35.8) | −2.9 (26.8) | 7.0 (44.6) |
Record low °C (°F) | −30.0 (−22.0) | −25.0 (−13.0) | −20.0 (−4.0) | −15.0 (5.0) | 0.6 (33.1) | 4.0 (39.2) | 7.0 (44.6) | 10.0 (50.0) | 4.0 (39.2) | −4.0 (24.8) | −17.0 (1.4) | −23.5 (−10.3) | −30.0 (−22.0) |
Average precipitation mm (inches) | 24.0 (0.94) | 28.2 (1.11) | 45.0 (1.77) | 56.6 (2.23) | 43.1 (1.70) | 19.4 (0.76) | 5.6 (0.22) | 3.3 (0.13) | 10.9 (0.43) | 24.5 (0.96) | 30.1 (1.19) | 24.1 (0.95) | 318.8 (12.55) |
Average rainy days | 6.9 | 7.3 | 10.7 | 14.8 | 9.3 | 3.2 | 1.2 | 0.6 | 1.9 | 4.9 | 5.5 | 6.3 | 72.6 |
Average snowy days | 11.3 | 9.9 | 5.9 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 1.8 | 8.2 | 38.4 |
Average relative humidity (%) | 72 | 69 | 61 | 56 | 50 | 40 | 36 | 36 | 39 | 51 | 65 | 71 | 53 |
Mean monthly sunshine hours | 125.9 | 146.3 | 179.7 | 200.8 | 268.7 | 334.3 | 352.5 | 337.7 | 301.4 | 231.6 | 180.3 | 136.8 | 2,796 |
Source: Iran Meteorological Organization (records), [35] (temperatures), [36] (precipitation), [37] (humidity), [38] (days with precipitation), [39] [40] (sunshine) [41] |
Climate data for Qom (1986–2010) | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Record high °C (°F) | 23.4 (74.1) | 26.5 (79.7) | 35.5 (95.9) | 36.5 (97.7) | 41.5 (106.7) | 44.2 (111.6) | 47.0 (116.6) | 45.5 (113.9) | 41.6 (106.9) | 36.6 (97.9) | 28.6 (83.5) | 22.5 (72.5) | 47.0 (116.6) |
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 10.2 (50.4) | 13.6 (56.5) | 19.1 (66.4) | 26.0 (78.8) | 31.8 (89.2) | 37.9 (100.2) | 40.3 (104.5) | 39.4 (102.9) | 34.9 (94.8) | 27.7 (81.9) | 18.9 (66.0) | 12.2 (54.0) | 26.0 (78.8) |
Daily mean °C (°F) | 4.2 (39.6) | 7.1 (44.8) | 12.0 (53.6) | 18.3 (64.9) | 23.6 (74.5) | 29.1 (84.4) | 31.8 (89.2) | 30.3 (86.5) | 25.2 (77.4) | 19.0 (66.2) | 11.5 (52.7) | 6.1 (43.0) | 18.2 (64.8) |
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −1.9 (28.6) | 0.6 (33.1) | 5.0 (41.0) | 10.5 (50.9) | 15.4 (59.7) | 20.2 (68.4) | 23.4 (74.1) | 21.2 (70.2) | 15.6 (60.1) | 10.3 (50.5) | 4.1 (39.4) | −0.1 (31.8) | 10.4 (50.7) |
Record low °C (°F) | −23 (−9) | −11.2 (11.8) | −11 (12) | 0.4 (32.7) | 5.4 (41.7) | 8.0 (46.4) | 15.0 (59.0) | 13.5 (56.3) | 6.5 (43.7) | 0.6 (33.1) | −7 (19) | −10.5 (13.1) | −23 (−9) |
Average precipitation mm (inches) | 25.4 (1.00) | 20.5 (0.81) | 27.7 (1.09) | 20.2 (0.80) | 10.4 (0.41) | 2.3 (0.09) | 0.7 (0.03) | 0.3 (0.01) | 0.8 (0.03) | 6.2 (0.24) | 14.3 (0.56) | 19.4 (0.76) | 148.2 (5.83) |
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) | 4.4 | 4.1 | 4.2 | 3.9 | 2.0 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.3 | 1.8 | 2.6 | 3.2 | 27.2 |
Average snowy days | 3.1 | 1.4 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.9 | 5.8 |
Average relative humidity (%) | 66 | 58 | 48 | 42 | 33 | 24 | 23 | 24 | 26 | 38 | 52 | 66 | 41 |
Mean monthly sunshine hours | 185.0 | 194.0 | 221.5 | 233.3 | 296.6 | 351.5 | 354.5 | 347.3 | 309.9 | 263.4 | 204.9 | 172.7 | 3,134.6 |
Source: Iran Meteorological Organization (records), [42] (temperatures), [43] (precipitation), [44] (humidity), [45] (days with precipitation and snow), [46] (sunshine) [47] |
Climate data for Ahvaz (1951–2010) | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Record high °C (°F) | 28.0 (82.4) | 31.5 (88.7) | 37.6 (99.7) | 43.0 (109.4) | 48.6 (119.5) | 52.2 (126.0) | 51.6 (124.9) | 51.0 (123.8) | 48.4 (119.1) | 45.0 (113.0) | 36.0 (96.8) | 29.0 (84.2) | 54.0 (129.2) |
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 17.5 (63.5) | 20.5 (68.9) | 25.5 (77.9) | 32.2 (90.0) | 39.3 (102.7) | 44.6 (112.3) | 46.3 (115.3) | 45.9 (114.6) | 42.5 (108.5) | 36.0 (96.8) | 26.5 (79.7) | 19.4 (66.9) | 33.0 (91.4) |
Daily mean °C (°F) | 12.3 (54.1) | 14.7 (58.5) | 19.0 (66.2) | 24.9 (76.8) | 31.1 (88.0) | 35.2 (95.4) | 37.3 (99.1) | 36.7 (98.1) | 33.0 (91.4) | 27.3 (81.1) | 19.8 (67.6) | 14.0 (57.2) | 25.4 (77.7) |
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 7.2 (45.0) | 8.8 (47.8) | 12.5 (54.5) | 17.6 (63.7) | 23.0 (73.4) | 25.9 (78.6) | 28.2 (82.8) | 27.4 (81.3) | 23.4 (74.1) | 18.8 (65.8) | 13.0 (55.4) | 8.6 (47.5) | 17.9 (64.2) |
Record low °C (°F) | −7.0 (19.4) | −5.0 (23.0) | −1.0 (30.2) | 6.0 (42.8) | 13.0 (55.4) | 15.0 (59.0) | 19.0 (66.2) | 18.0 (64.4) | 13.0 (55.4) | 8.0 (46.4) | 0.0 (32.0) | −1.0 (30.2) | −7.0 (19.4) |
Average precipitation mm (inches) | 48.2 (1.90) | 26.9 (1.06) | 26.4 (1.04) | 16.1 (0.63) | 4.4 (0.17) | 0.4 (0.02) | 0.1 (0.00) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.2 (0.01) | 6.4 (0.25) | 31.4 (1.24) | 48.7 (1.92) | 209.2 (8.24) |
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) | 4.9 | 3.6 | 3.6 | 2.8 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 2.9 | 4.5 | 24.2 |
Average relative humidity (%) | 71 | 61 | 51 | 41 | 28 | 22 | 24 | 28 | 29 | 38 | 53 | 69 | 43 |
Mean monthly sunshine hours | 174.7 | 193.2 | 214.1 | 233.8 | 284.4 | 326.2 | 336.1 | 331.2 | 301.8 | 263.5 | 209.5 | 176.4 | 3,044.9 |
Source: Iran Meteorological Organization (records), [48] (temperatures), [49]
|
Climate data for Kermanshah, Iran (1961–1990, extremes 1951–2010) | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Record high °C (°F) | 20.2 (68.4) | 21.8 (71.2) | 28.4 (83.1) | 33.7 (92.7) | 38.5 (101.3) | 43.0 (109.4) | 44.1 (111.4) | 44.0 (111.2) | 40.4 (104.7) | 34.4 (93.9) | 28.4 (83.1) | 25.4 (77.7) | 44.1 (111.4) |
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 6.5 (43.7) | 8.9 (48.0) | 14.3 (57.7) | 19.7 (67.5) | 25.8 (78.4) | 33.3 (91.9) | 37.8 (100.0) | 37.0 (98.6) | 32.5 (90.5) | 25.0 (77.0) | 16.7 (62.1) | 9.7 (49.5) | 22.3 (72.1) |
Daily mean °C (°F) | 0.6 (33.1) | 2.5 (36.5) | 7.7 (45.9) | 12.7 (54.9) | 17.6 (63.7) | 23.6 (74.5) | 28.2 (82.8) | 27.2 (81.0) | 22.4 (72.3) | 16.0 (60.8) | 8.9 (48.0) | 3.5 (38.3) | 14.2 (57.6) |
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −4.3 (24.3) | −3.0 (26.6) | 1.2 (34.2) | 5.1 (41.2) | 8.2 (46.8) | 11.4 (52.5) | 16.1 (61.0) | 15.4 (59.7) | 10.6 (51.1) | 6.4 (43.5) | 1.8 (35.2) | −1.7 (28.9) | 5.6 (42.1) |
Record low °C (°F) | −24 (−11) | −27.0 (−16.6) | −11.3 (11.7) | −6.1 (21.0) | −1.0 (30.2) | 2.0 (35.6) | 8.0 (46.4) | 8.0 (46.4) | 1.2 (34.2) | −3.5 (25.7) | −17.0 (1.4) | −17 (1) | −27.0 (−16.6) |
Average precipitation mm (inches) | 67.1 (2.64) | 62.9 (2.48) | 88.9 (3.50) | 69.9 (2.75) | 33.7 (1.33) | 0.5 (0.02) | 0.3 (0.01) | 0.3 (0.01) | 1.3 (0.05) | 29.2 (1.15) | 54.3 (2.14) | 70.3 (2.77) | 478.7 (18.85) |
Average rainy days | 11.4 | 10.7 | 12.6 | 11.0 | 7.6 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 4.9 | 7.9 | 9.6 | 77.3 |
Average snowy days | 5.9 | 4.7 | 1.9 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 3.1 | 16.1 |
Average relative humidity (%) | 75 | 71 | 62 | 57 | 49 | 28 | 23 | 23 | 25 | 40 | 59 | 71 | 49 |
Mean monthly sunshine hours | 134.8 | 150.1 | 180.7 | 204.6 | 268.0 | 348.3 | 349.1 | 336.7 | 304.6 | 242.8 | 187.6 | 147.9 | 2,855.2 |
Source 1: NOAA [54] | |||||||||||||
Source 2: Iran Meteorological Organization (records) [55] [56] |
Climate data for Rasht | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Record high °C (°F) | 30 (86) | 31 (88) | 38.0 (100.4) | 37 (99) | 37.6 (99.7) | 37 (99) | 37 (99) | 37.2 (99.0) | 40 (104) | 37.4 (99.3) | 36 (97) | 32 (90) | 40 (104) |
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 11.0 (51.8) | 11.2 (52.2) | 13.5 (56.3) | 19.0 (66.2) | 24.0 (75.2) | 28.1 (82.6) | 30.3 (86.5) | 30.2 (86.4) | 26.7 (80.1) | 22.1 (71.8) | 17.5 (63.5) | 13.5 (56.3) | 20.6 (69.1) |
Daily mean °C (°F) | 6.7 (44.1) | 7.0 (44.6) | 9.4 (48.9) | 14.3 (57.7) | 19.2 (66.6) | 23.2 (73.8) | 25.3 (77.5) | 25.3 (77.5) | 22.2 (72.0) | 17.7 (63.9) | 12.9 (55.2) | 8.9 (48.0) | 16.0 (60.8) |
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 2.4 (36.3) | 2.7 (36.9) | 5.3 (41.5) | 9.6 (49.3) | 14.4 (57.9) | 18.2 (64.8) | 20.4 (68.7) | 20.3 (68.5) | 17.6 (63.7) | 13.3 (55.9) | 8.3 (46.9) | 4.4 (39.9) | 11.4 (52.5) |
Record low °C (°F) | −19 (−2) | −18 (0) | −6.4 (20.5) | −2 (28) | 3.6 (38.5) | 5 (41) | 11 (52) | 9 (48) | 7 (45) | 1 (34) | −4 (25) | −10 (14) | −19 (−2) |
Average precipitation mm (inches) | 132.4 (5.21) | 116.0 (4.57) | 112.5 (4.43) | 64.8 (2.55) | 51.5 (2.03) | 43.0 (1.69) | 42.3 (1.67) | 68.4 (2.69) | 152.5 (6.00) | 211.5 (8.33) | 186.8 (7.35) | 155.8 (6.13) | 1,337.5 (52.65) |
Average precipitation days | 13.4 | 12.9 | 15.4 | 12.3 | 10.9 | 7.3 | 6.3 | 8.6 | 12.0 | 13.8 | 12.8 | 13.0 | 138.7 |
Average snowy days | 2.5 | 2.8 | 1.3 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.9 | 7.7 |
Average relative humidity (%) | 84 | 85 | 84 | 80 | 78 | 74 | 74 | 77 | 82 | 86 | 85 | 85 | 81 |
Mean monthly sunshine hours | 91.7 | 86.7 | 91.2 | 122.0 | 174.0 | 213.2 | 222.1 | 187.7 | 140.2 | 118.3 | 100.2 | 89.6 | 1,636.9 |
Source 1: World Climate [57] | |||||||||||||
Source 2: Shahrekord Meteorology Database [58] |
Climate data for Saqqez, Iran | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Record high °C (°F) | 18.2 (64.8) | 20 (68) | 24 (75) | 29 (84) | 34.4 (93.9) | 39 (102) | 43 (109) | 42 (108) | 39 (102) | 32 (90) | 26 (79) | 22.2 (72.0) | 43 (109) |
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 2.4 (36.3) | 4.7 (40.5) | 11.0 (51.8) | 17.3 (63.1) | 23.1 (73.6) | 29.8 (85.6) | 34.3 (93.7) | 34.2 (93.6) | 29.8 (85.6) | 22.2 (72.0) | 13.4 (56.1) | 6.1 (43.0) | 19.03 (66.25) |
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −8.1 (17.4) | −6.7 (19.9) | −1.2 (29.8) | 3.6 (38.5) | 6.6 (43.9) | 9.5 (49.1) | 14.0 (57.2) | 13.4 (56.1) | 8.3 (46.9) | 4.4 (39.9) | −0.3 (31.5) | −4.6 (23.7) | 3.24 (37.83) |
Record low °C (°F) | −32 (−26) | −36 (−33) | −27.6 (−17.7) | −9 (16) | −5 (23) | −0.6 (30.9) | 3.8 (38.8) | 4.8 (40.6) | −0.4 (31.3) | −7 (19) | −24 (−11) | −32 (−26) | −36 (−33) |
Average precipitation mm (inches) | 66.6 (2.62) | 58.7 (2.31) | 79.5 (3.13) | 83.6 (3.29) | 52.0 (2.05) | 5.8 (0.23) | 2.9 (0.11) | 2.5 (0.10) | 1.4 (0.06) | 27.8 (1.09) | 56.9 (2.24) | 61.7 (2.43) | 499.4 (19.66) |
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) | 8.5 | 8.3 | 10.0 | 9.8 | 7.0 | 1.2 | 0.7 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 4.3 | 6.2 | 8.1 | 65.2 |
Average relative humidity (%) | 73 | 70 | 64 | 58 | 52 | 40 | 35 | 33 | 33 | 47 | 63 | 71 | 53 |
Mean monthly sunshine hours | 121.5 | 142.2 | 177.4 | 213.1 | 287.1 | 345.1 | 357.4 | 344.3 | 311.1 | 254.3 | 174.1 | 123.4 | 2,851 |
Source: Synoptic Stations Statistics |
Climate data for Hamedan | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Record high °C (°F) | 17.0 (62.6) | 19.0 (66.2) | 25.0 (77.0) | 28.0 (82.4) | 33.0 (91.4) | 39.0 (102.2) | 40.6 (105.1) | 39.4 (102.9) | 36.4 (97.5) | 30.0 (86.0) | 23.0 (73.4) | 18.8 (65.8) | 40.6 (105.1) |
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 2.0 (35.6) | 4.3 (39.7) | 11.5 (52.7) | 18.1 (64.6) | 23.9 (75.0) | 30.9 (87.6) | 34.9 (94.8) | 34.2 (93.6) | 29.8 (85.6) | 21.9 (71.4) | 13.7 (56.7) | 5.9 (42.6) | 19.3 (66.7) |
Daily mean °C (°F) | −4.6 (23.7) | −2.2 (28.0) | 4.5 (40.1) | 10.4 (50.7) | 15.5 (59.9) | 21.3 (70.3) | 25.3 (77.5) | 24.3 (75.7) | 19.0 (66.2) | 12.1 (53.8) | 5.3 (41.5) | −0.9 (30.4) | 10.8 (51.5) |
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −10.5 (13.1) | −8.2 (17.2) | −2.1 (28.2) | 2.7 (36.9) | 6.4 (43.5) | 9.8 (49.6) | 13.9 (57.0) | 12.8 (55.0) | 7.0 (44.6) | 2.5 (36.5) | −2.1 (28.2) | −6.6 (20.1) | 2.1 (35.8) |
Record low °C (°F) | −34 (−29) | −33.0 (−27.4) | −21 (−6) | −12.0 (10.4) | −3.0 (26.6) | 2.0 (35.6) | 7.0 (44.6) | 4.0 (39.2) | −4.0 (24.8) | −7.0 (19.4) | −14.5 (5.9) | −29 (−20) | −34 (−29) |
Average precipitation mm (inches) | 46.3 (1.82) | 43.6 (1.72) | 49.4 (1.94) | 49.8 (1.96) | 37.8 (1.49) | 3.7 (0.15) | 2.0 (0.08) | 1.8 (0.07) | 0.8 (0.03) | 20.7 (0.81) | 26.9 (1.06) | 40.9 (1.61) | 323.7 (12.74) |
Average rainy days | 11.6 | 11.1 | 12.4 | 12.1 | 9.5 | 2.0 | 1.3 | 1.6 | 1.0 | 5.6 | 6.8 | 10.1 | 85.1 |
Average snowy days | 8.8 | 8.2 | 4.2 | 0.6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.2 | 0.9 | 6.9 | 29.8 |
Average relative humidity (%) | 76 | 73 | 64 | 56 | 50 | 36 | 31 | 31 | 34 | 48 | 61 | 73 | 53 |
Mean monthly sunshine hours | 131.8 | 137.1 | 174.5 | 199.6 | 258.5 | 341.8 | 342.7 | 322.2 | 295.6 | 234.3 | 183.1 | 135.3 | 2,756.5 |
Source: NOAA (1961–1990) [59] |
Climate data for Yazd (1951–2010, records and temperature normals 1951–2020) | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Record high °C (°F) | 27.0 (80.6) | 29.4 (84.9) | 35.2 (95.4) | 38.0 (100.4) | 41.0 (105.8) | 44.1 (111.4) | 45.6 (114.1) | 45.6 (114.1) | 42.0 (107.6) | 36.4 (97.5) | 30.8 (87.4) | 28.5 (83.3) | 45.6 (114.1) |
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 12.7 (54.9) | 16.0 (60.8) | 21.0 (69.8) | 26.9 (80.4) | 32.5 (90.5) | 38.1 (100.6) | 39.6 (103.3) | 38.0 (100.4) | 34.5 (94.1) | 27.8 (82.0) | 19.9 (67.8) | 14.5 (58.1) | 26.8 (80.2) |
Daily mean °C (°F) | 6.4 (43.5) | 9.3 (48.7) | 14.2 (57.6) | 19.9 (67.8) | 25.3 (77.5) | 30.5 (86.9) | 32.3 (90.1) | 30.2 (86.4) | 26.3 (79.3) | 19.9 (67.8) | 12.7 (54.9) | 7.8 (46.0) | 19.6 (67.2) |
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | -0 (32) | 2.6 (36.7) | 7.4 (45.3) | 12.9 (55.2) | 18.0 (64.4) | 22.8 (73.0) | 24.9 (76.8) | 22.3 (72.1) | 18.1 (64.6) | 12.0 (53.6) | 5.5 (41.9) | 1.1 (34.0) | 12.3 (54.1) |
Record low °C (°F) | −14 (7) | −10.1 (13.8) | −7 (19) | 0.0 (32.0) | 2.0 (35.6) | 11.0 (51.8) | 16.0 (60.8) | 12.0 (53.6) | 2.0 (35.6) | −3 (27) | −10 (14) | −16 (3) | −16 (3) |
Average precipitation mm (inches) | 12.2 (0.48) | 7.6 (0.30) | 12.5 (0.49) | 7.3 (0.29) | 3.6 (0.14) | 0.3 (0.01) | 0.2 (0.01) | 0.1 (0.00) | 0.1 (0.00) | 1.2 (0.05) | 4.1 (0.16) | 10.0 (0.39) | 59.2 (2.32) |
Average precipitation days | 4.8 | 3.5 | 4.8 | 4.3 | 2.2 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.8 | 2.2 | 3.7 | 27 |
Average snowy days | 2.1 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.8 | 4 |
Average relative humidity (%) | 54 | 44 | 37 | 32 | 25 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 19 | 27 | 38 | 50 | 32 |
Mean monthly sunshine hours | 194.1 | 210.3 | 225.4 | 246.2 | 302.7 | 343.1 | 347.2 | 346.1 | 316.4 | 286.9 | 226.2 | 200.3 | 3,244.9 |
Source 1: | |||||||||||||
Source 2: IRIMO (extremes, sun, humidity, 1952–2010) [60] |
Climate data for Ardabil | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Record high °C (°F) | 18.2 (64.8) | 20.0 (68.0) | 27.2 (81.0) | 32.0 (89.6) | 33.0 (91.4) | 37.5 (99.5) | 38.0 (100.4) | 39.8 (103.6) | 37.4 (99.3) | 30.8 (87.4) | 25.0 (77.0) | 21.2 (70.2) | 39.8 (103.6) |
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 3.0 (37.4) | 4.5 (40.1) | 9.3 (48.7) | 16.7 (62.1) | 19.7 (67.5) | 23.2 (73.8) | 25.0 (77.0) | 24.7 (76.5) | 22.6 (72.7) | 17.5 (63.5) | 11.4 (52.5) | 5.7 (42.3) | 15.3 (59.5) |
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −7.9 (17.8) | −6.3 (20.7) | −2.4 (27.7) | 2.8 (37.0) | 6.0 (42.8) | 9.0 (48.2) | 11.6 (52.9) | 11.6 (52.9) | 8.7 (47.7) | 4.8 (40.6) | 0.3 (32.5) | −4.6 (23.7) | 2.8 (37.0) |
Record low °C (°F) | −31.4 (−24.5) | −33.8 (−28.8) | −28.8 (−19.8) | −13.0 (8.6) | −8.5 (16.7) | −0.2 (31.6) | 3.0 (37.4) | 2.2 (36.0) | −4.4 (24.1) | −21.0 (−5.8) | −24.2 (−11.6) | −27.0 (−16.6) | −33.8 (−28.8) |
Average precipitation mm (inches) | 25.3 (1.00) | 24.1 (0.95) | 40.1 (1.58) | 47.0 (1.85) | 42.6 (1.68) | 18.9 (0.74) | 5.9 (0.23) | 5.5 (0.22) | 10.4 (0.41) | 31.8 (1.25) | 34.5 (1.36) | 29.4 (1.16) | 315.5 (12.43) |
Average rainy days | 8.2 | 8.9 | 11.3 | 14.2 | 15.7 | 7.2 | 3.9 | 4.1 | 6.4 | 9.2 | 7.7 | 7.9 | 104.7 |
Average snowy days | 7.6 | 7.7 | 7.1 | 2.1 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.9 | 3.5 | 6.3 | 35.5 |
Average relative humidity (%) | 75 | 74 | 73 | 68 | 71 | 71 | 69 | 70 | 74 | 75 | 74 | 74 | 72 |
Mean monthly sunshine hours | 146.2 | 153.7 | 170.4 | 184.9 | 245.4 | 293.6 | 302.8 | 274.3 | 227.1 | 185.6 | 153.4 | 141.0 | 2,478.4 |
Source: [61] |
Climate data for Bandar Abbas (1961–1990) | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Record high °C (°F) | 32.0 (89.6) | 33.0 (91.4) | 39.0 (102.2) | 42.0 (107.6) | 47.0 (116.6) | 51.0 (123.8) | 48.0 (118.4) | 46.0 (114.8) | 45.0 (113.0) | 42.0 (107.6) | 38.0 (100.4) | 32.0 (89.6) | 51.0 (123.8) |
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 23.5 (74.3) | 24.4 (75.9) | 27.7 (81.9) | 31.6 (88.9) | 36.3 (97.3) | 38.4 (101.1) | 38.2 (100.8) | 37.7 (99.9) | 36.8 (98.2) | 35.0 (95.0) | 30.4 (86.7) | 25.5 (77.9) | 32.13 (89.83) |
Daily mean °C (°F) | 18.1 (64.6) | 19.4 (66.9) | 23.1 (73.6) | 26.8 (80.2) | 31.2 (88.2) | 33.7 (92.7) | 34.4 (93.9) | 34.0 (93.2) | 32.5 (90.5) | 29.6 (85.3) | 24.3 (75.7) | 19.7 (67.5) | 27.2 (81.0) |
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 12.1 (53.8) | 14.0 (57.2) | 17.5 (63.5) | 20.9 (69.6) | 24.7 (76.5) | 28.0 (82.4) | 30.3 (86.5) | 30.1 (86.2) | 27.7 (81.9) | 23.5 (74.3) | 18.0 (64.4) | 13.5 (56.3) | 21.69 (71.04) |
Record low °C (°F) | 2.3 (36.1) | 5.4 (41.7) | 7.6 (45.7) | 11.5 (52.7) | 17.0 (62.6) | 20.0 (68.0) | 25.2 (77.4) | 25.0 (77.0) | 21.0 (69.8) | 12.0 (53.6) | 6.0 (42.8) | 2.0 (35.6) | 2.0 (35.6) |
Average precipitation mm (inches) | 39.7 (1.56) | 47.5 (1.87) | 34.8 (1.37) | 10.7 (0.42) | 4.8 (0.19) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.6 (0.02) | 2.2 (0.09) | 0.8 (0.03) | 1.3 (0.05) | 5.0 (0.20) | 24.0 (0.94) | 171.4 (6.74) |
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) | 3.3 | 3.1 | 2.6 | 1.3 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.4 | 2.3 | 13.7 |
Average relative humidity (%) | 64 | 68 | 67 | 64 | 61 | 64 | 68 | 69 | 67 | 64 | 61 | 63 | 65 |
Mean monthly sunshine hours | 220.1 | 211.9 | 232.5 | 242.4 | 312.7 | 302.2 | 264.6 | 270.1 | 270.1 | 283.4 | 251.2 | 228.8 | 3,090 |
Source: NOAA (1961–1990) [62] [63] |
Climate data for Arak | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Record high °C (°F) | 17.0 (62.6) | 21.0 (69.8) | 25.2 (77.4) | 29.0 (84.2) | 35.0 (95.0) | 41.0 (105.8) | 44.0 (111.2) | 41.0 (105.8) | 38.0 (100.4) | 31.0 (87.8) | 24.0 (75.2) | 20.0 (68.0) | 44.0 (111.2) |
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 4.2 (39.6) | 7.3 (45.1) | 13.7 (56.7) | 19.7 (67.5) | 25.6 (78.1) | 32.5 (90.5) | 35.7 (96.3) | 34.9 (94.8) | 30.7 (87.3) | 23.2 (73.8) | 14.5 (58.1) | 7.7 (45.9) | 20.8 (69.5) |
Daily mean °C (°F) | −0.8 (30.6) | 1.9 (35.4) | 7.8 (46.0) | 13.4 (56.1) | 18.2 (64.8) | 24.0 (75.2) | 27.3 (81.1) | 26.4 (79.5) | 21.9 (71.4) | 15.6 (60.1) | 8.4 (47.1) | 2.8 (37.0) | 13.9 (57.0) |
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −5.7 (21.7) | −3.4 (25.9) | 2.0 (35.6) | 7.0 (44.6) | 10.9 (51.6) | 15.5 (59.9) | 19.0 (66.2) | 17.9 (64.2) | 13.1 (55.6) | 7.9 (46.2) | 2.4 (36.3) | −2.1 (28.2) | 7.0 (44.7) |
Record low °C (°F) | −29.6 (−21.3) | −30.5 (−22.9) | −22 (−8) | −7.0 (19.4) | 0.0 (32.0) | 4.0 (39.2) | 12.0 (53.6) | 10.0 (50.0) | 2.0 (35.6) | −4.0 (24.8) | −17 (1) | −23 (−9) | −30.5 (−22.9) |
Average precipitation mm (inches) | 51.6 (2.03) | 43.3 (1.70) | 57.1 (2.25) | 53.6 (2.11) | 30.0 (1.18) | 2.8 (0.11) | 1.2 (0.05) | 1.6 (0.06) | 0.9 (0.04) | 16.9 (0.67) | 33.7 (1.33) | 44.4 (1.75) | 337.1 (13.28) |
Average rainy days | 10.8 | 9.8 | 11.4 | 9.4 | 7.1 | 1.1 | 0.9 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 4.3 | 6.1 | 8.9 | 71 |
Average snowy days | 7.6 | 6.4 | 3.2 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.1 | 0.7 | 4.6 | 23.1 |
Average relative humidity (%) | 72 | 66 | 54 | 48 | 41 | 29 | 28 | 27 | 28 | 41 | 57 | 68 | 47 |
Mean monthly sunshine hours | 152.0 | 170.9 | 206.2 | 225.7 | 288.3 | 345.0 | 334.8 | 330.9 | 305.1 | 259.3 | 185.9 | 154.3 | 2,958.4 |
Source: NOAA (1961–1990) [64] |
7% of the country is forested. The most extensive growths are found on the mountain slopes rising from the Caspian Sea, with stands of oak, ash, elm, cypress, and other valuable trees. On the plateau proper, areas of scrub oak appear on the best-watered mountain slopes, and villagers cultivate orchards and grow the plane tree, poplar, willow, walnut, beech, maple, and mulberry. Wild plants and shrubs spring from the barren land in the spring and afford pasturage, but the summer sun burns them away. According to FAO reports, [65] the major types of forests that exist in Iran and their respective areas are:
Wildlife of Iran is diverse and composed of several animal species including bears, gazelles, wild pigs, wolves, jackals, panthers, Eurasian lynx, and foxes. Domestic animals include, sheep, goats, cattle, horses, water buffalo, donkeys, and camels. The pheasant, partridge, stork, eagles and falcon are also native to Iran.
As of 2001, 20 of Iran's mammal species and 14 bird species are endangered. Among them are the Baluchistan bear (Ursus thibetanus gedrosianus), a subspecies of Asian black bear, Persian fallow deer, Siberian crane, hawksbill turtle, green turtle, Oxus cobra, Latifi's viper, dugong and dolphins. The Asiatic cheetah is a critically endangered species which is extinct elsewhere and now can only be found in central to northeastern parts of Iran.
Iran lost all its Asiatic lions and Caspian tigers by the earlier part of the 20th century. The Syrian wild ass has become extinct. Syrian brown bears in the mountains, wild sheep and goats, gazelles, Persian onagers, wild pigs, Persian leopards, and foxes abound. Domestic animals include sheep, goats, cattle, horses, water buffalo, donkeys, and camels. The pheasant, partridge, stork, and falcon are native to Iran.
The Persian leopard is said to be the largest of all the subspecies of leopards in the world. The main range of this species in Iran closely overlaps with that of bezoar ibex. Hence, it is found throughout Alborz and Zagros mountain ranges, as well as smaller ranges within the Iranian plateau. The leopard population is very sparse, due to loss of habitat, loss of natural prey, and population fragmentation.[ citation needed ] Apart from bezoar ibex, wild sheep, boar, deer, (either Caspian red deer or roe deer), and domestic animals constitute leopards' diet in Iran.
Iran's bio-diversity ranks 13th in the world.[ citation needed ] There are 272 conservation areas around Iran for a total of 17 million hectares under the supervision of the Department of Environment (Iran), variously named national parks, protected areas, and natural wildlife refuges, all meant to protect the genetic resources of the country. There are only 2,617 rangers and 430 environmental monitoring units engaged in protecting these vast areas, which amounts to 6,500 hectares to cover for each ranger. [66]
Ramsar sites (23 June 1975) | Area (km2) |
---|---|
Anzali Wetland Complex, [67] Gilan province | 150 |
Arjan Meadow, [68] Fars province | 22 |
Lake Gori, [69] East Azerbaijan province | 1.2 |
Lake Kobi, [70] West Azerbaijan province | 12 |
Lake Parishan, [68] Fars province | 40 |
Miankaleh Peninsula, Gorgan Bay, Lapoo-Zaghmarz Ab-bandan [71] Mazandaran province | 1000 |
Natural hazards: periodic droughts, floods; dust storms, sandstorms; earthquakes along western border and in the northeast
Environment – current issues: air pollution, especially in urban areas, from vehicle emissions, refinery operations, and industrial effluents; deforestation; desertification; oil pollution in the Persian Gulf; wetland losses from drought; soil degradation (salination); inadequate supplies of potable water in some areas; water pollution from raw sewage and industrial waste; urbanization.
Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, coal, chromium, copper, iron ore, lead, manganese, zinc, sulfur
arable land: 10.87%
permanent crops: 1.19%
other: 87.93% (2012 est.)
Irrigated land:87,000 km2 (34,000 sq mi) (2009)
Total renewable water resources: 137 km3 (2011)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 93.3 km3/yr (7%/1%/92%)
per capita: 1,306 m3/yr (2004)
Iran is currently engaged in international territorial disputes with several neighbouring countries.
The country protests Afghanistan's limiting flow of dammed tributaries to the Helmand River in periods of drought. The lack of a maritime boundary in the Persian Gulf with Iraq also prompts jurisdictional disputes beyond the mouth of the Arvand Rud. Iran and the United Arab Emirates have a territorial dispute over the Greater and Lesser Tunbs and Abu Musa islands, which are administered by Iran. Iran currently insists on dividing the Caspian Sea resources equally among the five littoral states, after the Russian-backed former soviet breakaway republics refused to respect the 50-50 agreements between Iran and the Soviet Union (despite their international obligation). Russia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan continue to claim territorial waters thus regarding the Caspian Sea as open international body of water, dismissing its geographically lake nature. [74]
Abadan is a city in the Central District of Abadan County, Khuzestan province, Iran, serving as capital of both the county and the district. The city is in the southwest of the county. It lies on Abadan Island. The island is bounded in the west by the Arvand waterway and to the east by the Bahmanshir outlet of the Karun River, 53 kilometres (33 mi) from the Persian Gulf, near the Iran–Iraq border. Abadan is 140 km from the provincial capital city of Ahvaz.
Gorgan is a city in the Central District of Gorgan County, Golestan province, Iran, serving as capital of the province, the county, and the district. It lies approximately 400 km (250 mi) to the northeast of the national capital Tehran, and some 30 km (19 mi) away from the Caspian Sea.
Bushehr is a port city in the Central District of Bushehr County, Bushehr province, Iran, serving as capital of the province, the county, and the district.
Mashhad is the second-most-populous city in Iran, located in the relatively remote north-east of the country about 900 kilometres from Tehran. In the Central District of Mashhad County, it serves as the capital of Razavi Khorasan province, the county, and the district. It has a population of about 3,400,000, which includes the areas of Mashhad Taman and Torqabeh.
Bam is a city in the Central District of Bam County, Kerman province, Iran, serving as capital of both the county and the district.
East Azerbaijan province is one of the 31 provinces of Iran. Its capital is the city of Tabriz.
Ahvaz is a city in the Central District of Ahvaz County, Khuzestan province, Iran, serving as capital of the province, the county, and the district. It is home to Persians including Bakhtiaris, Dezfulis, Shushtaris, Lurs and other folks like Arabs and Kurds. Languages spoken in the area include Persian, Arabic, Luri and dialects such as Bakhtiari, Dezfuli and Shushtari.
Qom is a city in the Central District of Qom County, Qom province, Iran, serving as capital of the province, the county, and the district. It is the seventh largest metropolis and also the seventh largest city in Iran. The city is 140 km (87 mi) to the south of Tehran, and on the banks of the Qom River.
Karaj is a city in the Central District of Karaj County, Alborz province, Iran, serving as capital of the province, the county, and the district. Earliest evidence of inhabitation in Karaj can be dated to the Bronze Age at Tepe Khurvin. The city was developed under the rule of the Safavid and Qajar Empire and is home to historical buildings and memorials from those eras. This city has a unique climate due to access to natural resources such as many trees, rivers, and green plains. After Tehran, Karaj is the largest immigrant-friendly city in Iran, so it has been nicknamed "Little Iran."
Ramhormoz is a city in the Central District of Ramhormoz County, Khuzestan province, Iran, serving as capital of both the county and the district. In ancient times it had been known as Samangan, having been established by the Sasanian emperor Hormizd I, although an Elamite tomb has been found as well. The historical territory of Ramshir is in this area, only 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) away from the city.
Shahr-e Kord is a city in the Central District of Shahrekord County, Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province, Iran, serving as capital of the province, the county, and the district. It is the largest city in the province, and is 90 km away from Iran's third largest city, Isfahan.
Maku is a city in the Central District of Maku County, West Azerbaijan province, Iran, serving as capital of both the county and the district.
The Islamic Republic of Iran Railways is the national state-owned railway system of Iran. The Raja Passenger Train Company is an associate of the IR, and manages its passenger trains. The Railway Transportation Company is an associate of the IR, which manages its freight transport. The Ministry of Roads & Urban Development is the state agency that oversees the IRIR. Some 33 million tonnes of goods and 29 million passengers are transported annually by the rail transportation network, accounting for 9 percent and 11 percent of all transportation in Iran, respectively (2011).
Kahnuj is a city in the Central District of Kahnuj County, Kerman province, Iran, serving as capital of both the county and the district. To the northwest is Mehroyeh Wildlife Refuge.
Mianeh is a city in the Central District of Mianeh County, East Azerbaijan province, Iran, serving as capital of both the county and the district. It is the fourth most populous city of the province.
Germi is a city in the Central District of Germi County, Ardabil province, Iran, serving as the capital of both the county and the district.
Jask is a city in the Central District of Jask County, Hormozgan province, Iran, serving as capital of both the county and the district.
Aghajari is a city in the Central District of Aghajari County, Khuzestan province, Iran, serving as capital of both the county and the district.
In the second half of the 19th century, during the time of Nasser-al-Din Shah, a short horse-driven suburban railway was established south of Tehran that was later converted to steam. This line was closed in 1952.
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