Temporal rainfall trend analysis in different agro-ecological regions of southern Africa

Rainfall is a major driver of food production in rainfed smallholder farming systems. This study was conducted to assess linear trends in (i) different daily rainfall amounts (<5, 5–10, 11–20, 21–40 and >40 mm∙day-1), and (ii) monthly and seasonal rainfall amounts. Drought was determined using the r...

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Main Authors: Mupangwa, W., Makanza, R., Chipindu, L., Moeletsi, M., Mkuhlani, S., Liben, F., Nyagumbo, I., Mutenje, M.
Format: Journal Article
Language:Inglés
Published: Academy of Science of South Africa 2021
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/117870
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author Mupangwa, W.
Makanza, R.
Chipindu, L.
Moeletsi, M.
Mkuhlani, S.
Liben, F.
Nyagumbo, I.
Mutenje, M.
author_browse Chipindu, L.
Liben, F.
Makanza, R.
Mkuhlani, S.
Moeletsi, M.
Mupangwa, W.
Mutenje, M.
Nyagumbo, I.
author_facet Mupangwa, W.
Makanza, R.
Chipindu, L.
Moeletsi, M.
Mkuhlani, S.
Liben, F.
Nyagumbo, I.
Mutenje, M.
author_sort Mupangwa, W.
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description Rainfall is a major driver of food production in rainfed smallholder farming systems. This study was conducted to assess linear trends in (i) different daily rainfall amounts (<5, 5–10, 11–20, 21–40 and >40 mm∙day-1), and (ii) monthly and seasonal rainfall amounts. Drought was determined using the rainfall variability index. Daily rainfall data were derived from 18 meteorological stations in southern Africa. Daily rainfall was dominated by <5 mm∙day-1 followed by 5–10 mm∙day -1. Three locations experienced increasing linear trends of <5 mm∙day-1 amounts and two others in sub-humid region had increases in the >40 mm day -1 category. Semi-arid location experienced increasing trends in <5 and 5–10 mm∙day-1 events. A significant linear trend in seasonal rainfall occurred at two locations with decreasing rainfall (1.24 and 3 mm∙season-1). A 3 mm∙season-1 decrease in seasonal rainfall was experienced under semi-arid conditions. There were no apparent linear trends in monthly and seasonal rainfall at 15 of the 18 locations studied. Drought frequencies varied with location and were 50% or higher during the November–March growing season. Rainfall trends were location and agro-ecology specific, but most of the locations studied did not experience significant changes between the 1900s and 2000s.
format Journal Article
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institution CGIAR Consortium
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publishDate 2021
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spelling CGSpace1178702025-11-11T10:41:17Z Temporal rainfall trend analysis in different agro-ecological regions of southern Africa Mupangwa, W. Makanza, R. Chipindu, L. Moeletsi, M. Mkuhlani, S. Liben, F. Nyagumbo, I. Mutenje, M. agriculture risk drought rainfed distribution farming systems climate smart agriculture rainfall Rainfall is a major driver of food production in rainfed smallholder farming systems. This study was conducted to assess linear trends in (i) different daily rainfall amounts (<5, 5–10, 11–20, 21–40 and >40 mm∙day-1), and (ii) monthly and seasonal rainfall amounts. Drought was determined using the rainfall variability index. Daily rainfall data were derived from 18 meteorological stations in southern Africa. Daily rainfall was dominated by <5 mm∙day-1 followed by 5–10 mm∙day -1. Three locations experienced increasing linear trends of <5 mm∙day-1 amounts and two others in sub-humid region had increases in the >40 mm day -1 category. Semi-arid location experienced increasing trends in <5 and 5–10 mm∙day-1 events. A significant linear trend in seasonal rainfall occurred at two locations with decreasing rainfall (1.24 and 3 mm∙season-1). A 3 mm∙season-1 decrease in seasonal rainfall was experienced under semi-arid conditions. There were no apparent linear trends in monthly and seasonal rainfall at 15 of the 18 locations studied. Drought frequencies varied with location and were 50% or higher during the November–March growing season. Rainfall trends were location and agro-ecology specific, but most of the locations studied did not experience significant changes between the 1900s and 2000s. 2021-10 2022-02-01T10:02:12Z 2022-02-01T10:02:12Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/117870 en Open Access application/pdf Academy of Science of South Africa Mupangwa, W., Makanza, R., Chipindu, L., Moeletsi, M., Mkuhlani, S., Liben, F., ... & Mutenje, M. (2021). Temporal rainfall trend analysis in different agro-ecological regions of southern Africa. Water SA, 47(4), 466-479.
spellingShingle agriculture
risk
drought
rainfed
distribution
farming systems
climate smart agriculture
rainfall
Mupangwa, W.
Makanza, R.
Chipindu, L.
Moeletsi, M.
Mkuhlani, S.
Liben, F.
Nyagumbo, I.
Mutenje, M.
Temporal rainfall trend analysis in different agro-ecological regions of southern Africa
title Temporal rainfall trend analysis in different agro-ecological regions of southern Africa
title_full Temporal rainfall trend analysis in different agro-ecological regions of southern Africa
title_fullStr Temporal rainfall trend analysis in different agro-ecological regions of southern Africa
title_full_unstemmed Temporal rainfall trend analysis in different agro-ecological regions of southern Africa
title_short Temporal rainfall trend analysis in different agro-ecological regions of southern Africa
title_sort temporal rainfall trend analysis in different agro ecological regions of southern africa
topic agriculture
risk
drought
rainfed
distribution
farming systems
climate smart agriculture
rainfall
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/117870
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