Öz
Climate change has made analytical analysis a necessity by presenting different approaches in monitoring the spatio-temporal trend of the drought. This study carried out in Sanliurfa province, covering 50% of the Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP) irrigation area. It is aimed to determine the spatio-temporal trend and magnitude of meteorological drought by using different methods. To this end, the long-term annual total precipitation and average annual maximum temperature series were obtained from Sanliurfa, Birecik, Akcakale, Ceylanpinari, Siverek for the years 1965-2020 and Bozova (2000-2020) meteorological observation stations. Based on the data obtained, “Erinç Drought/Aridity Index” (EDI) values calculated annually for each station; the runs (Swed-Eisenhart), autocorrelation, Mann-Kendall trend and Sen's slope tests were applied at 5% significance level. According to the runs and autocorrelation tests, it was determined that the EDI (Im) series were statistically independent. Median values of the EDI series, Mann-Kendall trend test (Z) and Sen's slope (Q) statistics for each meteorological station were utilized to produce "Mann-Kendall Trend", "Sen's Slope Trend" and "Erinç Drought Index" maps by the Inverse Distance Weighted Interpolation technique in the Geographical Information System environment. Consequently, it has been determined that the EDI values show a significant downward trend from north to south in and around Sanliurfa; the magnitude of trend, i.e. its speed, (Im/year) tends to increase in the direction of decreasing land elevation. Not surprisingly, the closer to the Syrian border, the more severe the drought episodes. Research results led us to conclude that Atatürk, Birecik and Karkamis dams can not be expected to prevent the spatial and temporal propagation of the drought from north to south in Sanliurfa, except for Bozova district.