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Hedjazizadeh Z, karbalaee A, fatahian M. (2026). Analysis of Decadal Variations in Geopotential Pressure over the Territory of Iran. jgs. 26(80),
URL: http://jgs.khu.ac.ir/article-1-4448-en.html

This study investigates the spatial dynamics of the subtropical anticyclone over Iran during boreal summer, using daily ERA5 reanalysis data (1980–2020) and the Getis-Ord Gi* statistic to identify statistically significant hotspots (p < 0.01) in 500-hPa geopotential height (Z500) anomalies for June–August. Results reveal that the peak statistical hotspot occurs in July: a prominent warm cluster with Z-scores up to +4.1 (99% confidence level) forms over southwestern Iran (27°–32°N, 48°–60°E), reflecting the strongest positive departure from the long-term Z500 climatology. Conversely, a cold cluster with Z-scores reaching −10.2 emerges over the northwest (West Azerbaijan and Kurdistan provinces)—the lowest value recorded over the entire period—indicating pronounced geopotential depression driven by the orographic influence of the Alborz–Zagros ranges and incursions of mid-latitude systems. Histogram analysis of Z-scores confirms a distinctly bimodal distribution in July, with high frequencies in the [+2.5, +4.1] and [−10.2, −2.5] ranges and a pronounced trough near Z ≈ 0, underscoring strong spatial segregation between warm and cold clusters. Notably, the eastern half of Iran (central and eastern regions) consistently lacks significant hotspots across all three months, suggesting the presence of a dynamic transition zone shaped by the competition between subtropical and mid-latitude circulations. In August, although absolute Z500 exceeds 5890 m, the Z-score diminishes (+4.0), indicating that cumulative surface heating elevates the mean geopotential height—but its anomalous intensity relative to climatology weakens compared to July. Collectively, these findings suggest that the dynamical peak of the Iranian subtropical high lags the peak of surface heating by approximately one month.