Sian, Kenny T. and Ayugi, Brian and Onyutha, Charles and Sagero, Philip and Brahim, Yassine A. (2025) Rainfall variability across Africa. In: Climate Change and Rainfall Extremes in Africa: Occurrence, Impacts and Adaptation. Elsevier, Netherlands, pp. 3-26. ISBN 978-0-443-28867-8
Full text not available from this repository.Abstract
This chapter provides a comprehensive analysis of rainfall variability over Africa and its nine climate subregions, exploring its patterns, influences, and future projections. The chapter begins by highlighting the significance of rainfall variability in shaping Africa’s climate dynamics, particularly in the rain-dependent sub-Saharan region, and its impact on various aspects of life, including agriculture, health, and water-related disasters. It discusses the key climatic drivers, both global and local, such as El Niño-Southern Oscillation, Indian Ocean Dipole, and topographical features, influencing rainfall patterns across the continent’s nine climatic subregions. The chapter also discusses the intricate interactions of local, synoptic, and global-scale weather systems in shaping African rainfall variability, emphasizing the role of phenomena like convective thunderstorms, mesoscale convective systems, and large-scale atmospheric circulation patterns such as the Intertropical Convergence Zone and monsoon systems. It also examines the influence of various climate phenomena, including sea surface temperature, North Atlantic Oscillation, and Pacific Decadal Oscillation, on African rainfall patterns, highlighting their complex dynamics and implications for regional climate systems. Furthermore, the chapter discusses historical rainfall variability and future projections across different regions of Africa, drawing insights from the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 simulations under the various Shared Socioeconomic Pathways emission scenarios. It underscores the need for interdisciplinary collaboration, data harmonization efforts, and remarkable investment in observational networks and modeling capabilities to address gaps in understanding rainfall variability comprehensively. Lastly, the chapter highlights the uncertainties surrounding future climate scenarios and the imperative of continued research and adaptive measures to mitigate risks and enhance resilience to rainfall variability across the continent.
| Item Type: | Book Chapter |
|---|---|
| Subjects: | G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GB Physical geography |
| Divisions: | School of Agriculture, Geography, Environment, Ocean and Natural Sciences (SAGEONS) |
| Depositing User: | Philip Sagero |
| Date Deposited: | 03 Jun 2025 23:44 |
| Last Modified: | 03 Jun 2025 23:44 |
| URI: | https://repository.usp.ac.fj/id/eprint/14991 |
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