thermal regions of iran

spatial distribution of thermal regions is dependent on local factors and circulation patterns in long terms. recognition of spatial distribution of temperature in geographical regions could be help on planning and environmental policies. the aim of this paper is recognition and detachment of thermal regions in iran. for this object, maximum daily temperature data have been provided using 620 synoptic and climatology stations. maximum temperature converted for any station, base on solar calendar, and maps of maximum daily temperature have been interpolated using kriging method. spatial resolution of these maps is 15ã—15 km. so 7187 pixels cover the country and temporal and spatial behavior of maximum temperature could be represented by a 7187ã—366 matrix. for diagnostic thermal regions in iran, an agglomerative hierarchical cluster analysis with ward's linkage applied on this matrix and five different thermal regions which consist: high mountainous, mountainous and caspian's coasts, central plane, south eastern plane, southern coasts. in creating thermal regions topography spatial configuration and latitude have been involved. recognition of thermal regions is important for energy consumption and tourism timing management.