)n Balteanu, Atalay, Dumitrache Dinca ȋEdsȌ, The 8 th Romanian ‐ Turkish Geographical Seminar, ʹ‐ͳͳ September ʹͲͳʹ, Bucuresti ‐ Slanic Moldova ‐ Sinaia, Romania, Proceedings, p. ͳ8‐ʹ8 Precipitation Characteristics in Balıkesir and its Vicinity İsa Cürebal, Alaattin Kızılçaoğlu, Abdullah Soykan, Recep Efe, Süleyman Sönmez Balıkesir University, Abstract Province of Balıkesir, located in the northwest of Turkey, is an area where locally different climactic characteristics are observed due to the expanse of the area. The study examines the temporal and spatial characteristics of precipitation in Balıkesir and its close vicinity along with the factors that affect precipitation. The factors that determine the amount of precipitation in the study area are based on planetary and geographical conditions. The effects of planetary factors are believed to be higher. Annual distribution, intensity and efficiency of precipitation in the research area are closely related to the formation and movements of the frontal systems based on air masses. Irregularity and volatility in annual amount of precipitation in the study area are important in terms of agriculture, economy and tourism. Majority of precipitation in the research occur during winter months and summer months are rather arid. Precipitation is observed more on the coastal and higher areas with a tendency to decrease in lowland and inner areas. Key words: Distribution of precipitation, Balıkesir, precipitation regime Introduction Precipitation, one of the main elements of climate, is closely related to both human activities and natural environment. Livelihood depends mostly on agriculture, animal husbandry and other economical activities in the study area. There are also a few industrial facilities in the area. Precipitation is a factor that affects all economic activities. Study area covers the whole area inside Balıkesir province administrative borders. The province of Balıkesir is located in the northwest of Turkey and most of its land is located in the South Marmara section of Marmara Region with the rest of the land in the north of Aegean region. Surface area of the province is 14292 km  (Figure 1). Factors that affect precipitation in the study area Factors related to physical geography have a prominent role in the identification of the characteristics of precipitation in the study area. Physical geography factors such as proximity to the sea, elevation and relief are factors that change “Planetary Factors” mostly locally and that cause thermic and dynamic modifications. The orographic characteristics affect the conditions of circulation that forms in western winds system. When western sector winds are parallel to the direction of the mountains, orographic elevation slows down and a slight increase is observed in elevation-based precipitation. However, precipitation increases in periods when circulation causes northern sector winds and on higher areas (Figure 2). Amount of precipitation that falls in the study area is dependent mainly on planetary factors and secondarily on geographical factors. Hence, distribution of precipitation according to months is related to condensation of air conditions. Other factors that affect annual distribution of precipitation are relief and exposure. Annual distribution, intensity and efficiency of precipitation in the study area changes according to the formation of air mass dependent frontal systems and their movements. The movements of the front that forms between the opposite directional Tropical and Polar air masses over Mediterranean and the