Research Article

Modeling of Relationship Between Meteorological Drought and Water Surface Elevation Using Copula Functions

Volume: 12 Number: 2 July 24, 2026
TR EN

Modeling of Relationship Between Meteorological Drought and Water Surface Elevation Using Copula Functions

Abstract

This research analyzes the dependence structure between meteorological drought conditions and hydrological variations in Lake Eğirdir using a copula-based statistical framework. The study relies on 12-month Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) records obtained from five meteorological stations (Eğirdir, Isparta, Uluborlu, Senirkent, and Yalvaç) and on water surface elevation (WSE) observations spanning 1975–2019. WSE were standardized and run theory was applied to identify potential time lags between atmospheric drought indicators and hydrological responses. Marginal probability distributions were estimated separately for SPI and WSE, after which their dependence structure was characterized using different copula functions. The analysis revealed weak yet statistically significant associations between WSE and SPI at the Eğirdir, Isparta, and Senirkent stations. The impact of meteorological droughts on WSE manifests with delays ranging from approximately 4 to 11.5 years, indicating a storage-controlled hydrological response. According to copula-based return period analysis, negative or near-zero SPI-12 conditions lasting approximately five years result in the WSE falling below its long-term mean elevation (917.3 m). Furthermore, under extreme drought conditions (SPI ≈ -2.55), the probability of further elevation decline over the five-year period is approximately 65%. These findings demonstrate that copula models can successfully represent drought-lake interactions, reveal the transfer of meteorological drought to hydrological drought, and provide numerical thresholds for early warning and water management planning in lake basins. 

Keywords

References

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Hydrology (Other)

Journal Section

Research Article

Publication Date

July 24, 2026

Submission Date

January 8, 2026

Acceptance Date

April 1, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 12 Number: 2

APA
Baykal, T., Taylan, D., & Terzi, Ö. (2026). Modeling of Relationship Between Meteorological Drought and Water Surface Elevation Using Copula Functions. Doğal Afetler Ve Çevre Dergisi, 12(2), 309-327. https://doi.org/10.21324/dacd.1859379
AMA
1.Baykal T, Taylan D, Terzi Ö. Modeling of Relationship Between Meteorological Drought and Water Surface Elevation Using Copula Functions. J Nat Haz Environ. 2026;12(2):309-327. doi:10.21324/dacd.1859379
Chicago
Baykal, Tahsin, Dilek Taylan, and Özlem Terzi. 2026. “Modeling of Relationship Between Meteorological Drought and Water Surface Elevation Using Copula Functions”. Doğal Afetler Ve Çevre Dergisi 12 (2): 309-27. https://doi.org/10.21324/dacd.1859379.
EndNote
Baykal T, Taylan D, Terzi Ö (July 1, 2026) Modeling of Relationship Between Meteorological Drought and Water Surface Elevation Using Copula Functions. Doğal Afetler ve Çevre Dergisi 12 2 309–327.
IEEE
[1]T. Baykal, D. Taylan, and Ö. Terzi, “Modeling of Relationship Between Meteorological Drought and Water Surface Elevation Using Copula Functions”, J Nat Haz Environ, vol. 12, no. 2, pp. 309–327, July 2026, doi: 10.21324/dacd.1859379.
ISNAD
Baykal, Tahsin - Taylan, Dilek - Terzi, Özlem. “Modeling of Relationship Between Meteorological Drought and Water Surface Elevation Using Copula Functions”. Doğal Afetler ve Çevre Dergisi 12/2 (July 1, 2026): 309-327. https://doi.org/10.21324/dacd.1859379.
JAMA
1.Baykal T, Taylan D, Terzi Ö. Modeling of Relationship Between Meteorological Drought and Water Surface Elevation Using Copula Functions. J Nat Haz Environ. 2026;12:309–327.
MLA
Baykal, Tahsin, et al. “Modeling of Relationship Between Meteorological Drought and Water Surface Elevation Using Copula Functions”. Doğal Afetler Ve Çevre Dergisi, vol. 12, no. 2, July 2026, pp. 309-27, doi:10.21324/dacd.1859379.
Vancouver
1.Tahsin Baykal, Dilek Taylan, Özlem Terzi. Modeling of Relationship Between Meteorological Drought and Water Surface Elevation Using Copula Functions. J Nat Haz Environ. 2026 Jul. 1;12(2):309-27. doi:10.21324/dacd.1859379