Analysing Spatiotemporal Complexity of Precipitation Using Sample Entropy and Wavelet Spectrum

Abstract Analysing precipitation dynamics is vital to improve water resource management practices and socio-economic stability, particularly in regions susceptible to climate change. This study examines the spatiotemporal variability in precipitation dynamics and complexity within the Antalya Basin, a region significant to Türkiye’s socio-economic framework, over the period 1970–2017. Utilizing daily precipitation data from eight meteorological stations, changes in precipitation complexity were analyzed through sample entropy, wavelet spectra, change-point analyses (Pettitt, Buishand, Standard Normal Homogeneity, Pruned Exact Linear Time, and Wild Binary Segmentation), and trend analyses. The findings revealed significant shifts in precipitation periodicity, frequency, and complexity, highlighting the evolving hydrological characteristics of the basin. The results indicated that precipitation complexity, particularly in the northern and western basin, exhibited distinct patterns compared to those in the eastern and southern regions, with sample entropy values approximately 1.5 times greater in the north. Periodic fluctuations and increased irregularity in precipitation dynamics were observed, particularly from 1999 to 2017. Such changes have the potential to disrupt water resource planning and exacerbate risks such as floods and droughts. The findings could be useful for decision-makers in water resources management and for mitigating the impacts of climate change in one of the country’s highly sensitive basins.