Climate of Kütahya province and its surroundings

Kütahya, located in the Inner Western Anatolia subregion of the Aegean Region, has a climate that is monitored using up-to-date meteorological data. Since weather conditions are dynamic, key climate parameters such as temperature, precipitation, and humidity are regularly updated through ongoing measurements. The climatic characteristics of Kütahya city center, the districts of Tavşanlı, Simav, and Gediz, as well as the neighboring provincial centers of Afyonkarahisar and Uşak, have been identified and compared. In this study, data obtained from the Turkish State Meteorological Service (MGM) were used. Daily precipitation and temperature records from 1960 to 2023 were analyzed for six selected meteorological stations within the study area, while average wind data from the past 55 years were utilized for evaluating wind characteristics. For other climatic elements, average meteorological data from approximately the last 50 years were utilized. In selecting climate parameters, the start dates of observation methods were taken into account: while synoptic meteorological stations began operations in 1960, small and large climate stations were commissioned several years later, following the establishment of synoptic stations. This influenced the selection of data sources. Care was taken to ensure that all datasets included a minimum of 50 years of uninterrupted measurements. In this respect, the study is based on long-term and up-to-date meteorological data, allowing for an in-depth analysis of the climate over time. Longterm climate data for the study area were analyzed and supported by various climate vi classification methods, including Köppen, De Martonne, Thornthwaite, and Erinç. Differences in climatic conditions across the area were identified based on key meteorological parameters such as temperature, precipitation, pressure, and wind. Although average temperatures across the region are relatively similar, significant differences are observed in annual precipitation amounts. These variations have diverse impacts on water resources, agricultural activities, and vegetation cover (Koç, 2011; Yıldırım ve diğ., 2016). Differences are also evident in climate classifications. According to the Köppen classification, Kütahya, Afyonkarahisar, Uşak, and Tavşanlı fall under the Steppe Climate (BS), whereas Gediz and Simav are classified as having climate types closer to humid regions, outside the steppe zone. In the De Martonne classification, Simav is categorized as a semi-humid region, while the other locations fall into the steppe–semi-humid transitional zone. Objective and quantitative observation methods appropriate for continuously changing climate conditions were employed in this study. Climate change scenarios—optimistic (RCP4.5) and pessimistic (RCP8.5)—were analyzed specifically for the cities of Kütahya and Uşak. Based on newly obtained data, the sectoral impacts of climate change on the study area (e.g., agriculture, industry, water management, transportation) are discussed in the conclusion section through recommendations and evaluations. These arguments distinguish this study from the limited number of previous works, and the use of upto-date data provides a valuable resource for future research.