Ogwang, Bob and Nimusiima, Alex and Tindamanyire, Teddy and Serwanga, Margaret and Ayesiga, Godwin and Ojara, Moses and Ssebabi, Fred and Gugwa, Gordon and Nsubuga, Yusuf and Atim, Rhoda and Kibwika, Rober and Balikudembe, Joseph and Kikonyogo, Herbert and Kalema, Abubakar and Ongoma, Victor and Taire, A. and Kiryhabwe, A. and Semujju, M. and Einyu, F. and Kituusa, R. and Aribo, L. (2016) Characteristics and changes in SON rainfall over Uganda (1901-2013). Journal of Environmental and Agricultural Sciences, 8 . pp. 45-53. ISSN 2313-8629
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Abstract
This study investigated the characteristics and changes in September-November (SON) rainfall over Uganda. The dominant mode of variability of SON rainfall was identified by performing Empirical orthogonal functions (EOF) analysis, using rainfall data from Climate Research Unit (CRU) for the period 1901 to 2013. Results indicate that the dominant mode of variability of SON rainfall
exhibits a unimodal pattern, explaining 50.2% of the total variance. Mann-Kendall analysis was deployed to examine sudden changes in SON rainfall over the country. The findings show that the abrupt change in SON rainfall occurred in 1994. Further analysis reveal that SON rainfall over Uganda has a correlation pattern with the sea surface temperature (SST) over Indian, which depicts the positive phase of the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD). Positive correlation is exhibited in the western IOD subregion, while negative correlation is shown in the southeastern IOD sub-region. Further study of the
both driest and wettest years during the investigated time span indicate that throughout the wettest year,
there were positive anomalies in the western sub-region, contrary to the driest year, when same subregion
observed distinct negative anomalies. This illustrates that the positive phase of IOD enhances SON rainfall over Uganda, as opposed to the negative phase which inhibits SON rainfall. The evolution of the IOD can therefore be monitored for the improvement of SON rainfall forecasts, especially over Uganda so as to avoid the losses associated with weather extremes.
| Item Type: | Journal Article |
|---|---|
| Subjects: | G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GB Physical geography G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GE Environmental Sciences |
| Divisions: | Faculty of Science, Technology and Environment (FSTE) > School of Geography, Earth Science and Environment |
| Depositing User: | Victor Ongoma |
| Date Deposited: | 12 Apr 2019 00:41 |
| Last Modified: | 12 Apr 2019 00:41 |
| URI: | https://repository.usp.ac.fj/id/eprint/11469 |
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