Locally Defined Seasonal Rainfall Characteristics Within The Horn Of Africa Drylands From Rain Gauge Observations
American Meteorological Society
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Abstract: Using over a decade of rain gauge data, this paper refines seasonal rainfall definitions across Kenya, Somalia, and Ethiopia. It challenges standard MAM/OND seasonal demarcations, revealing high spatial heterogeneity in rainfall onset and cessation. Extreme rainfall days often exceed seasonal averages, impacting drought and flood planning. A climatological anomaly method is introduced to identify local rainfall seasons with greater accuracy. The framework offers enhanced metrics for agropastoral resilience and informs climate services and early warning systems across data-scarce drylands.
Author:
Katherine Cocking, Michael Bliss Singer, David MacLeod, Mark O. Cuthbert, Rafael Rosolem, Flavian Muthusi, Paolo Paron, Joyce Kimutai, Phillip Omondi, Ahmed Mohamed Hassan, Asaminew Teshome, Katerina Michaelides
Theme/Sector:
Horn of Africa, Rainfall, Arid and Semi-Arid Land (ASAL), Climate Change Impacts
Year
2024