DETERMINATION OF CLIMATE TYPE AND EVAPOTRANSPIRATION FOR BURDUR LAKE BASIN USING GEOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION SYSTEMS AND DIFFERENT METHODS

The surface area of Lake Burdur has been gradually shrinking every year. The most important factors causing this water loss are the climate type of the basin and evapotranspiration. In hydrogeological basin studies, one of the discharge parameters used in hydrological water balance calculations is the actual evaportranspiration. Thornthwaite, Blaney-Criddle and Schendel methods were used to calculate evapotranspiration for the basin. When the results of the three methods were compared, Thornthwaite method gave results closer to the average values. Thornthwaite Climate Classification method was chosen to determine the climate type by accepting that Thornthwaite method represents the basin climate characteristics. Precipitation index, humidity index and drought index were calculated to determine the climate type. Precipitation efficiency index values are in arid-semi humic (C1) climate type for all stations. Drought index value is ‘very strong water deficit in summer’ for all stations. (s2) and ‘very strong water deficit in winter’ (w2) precipitation regime. Moisture index values for all stations are in the precipitation regime of ‘moderate water surplus in summer’ (s) and ‘moderate water surplus in winter’ (w). It is concluded that Burdur Lake basin has arid-semi humic climate type and has arid climate class.