Seventh Annual AMS Student Conference

P1.20

The Onset, Cessation and Dry Spells of the Small Rainy Season (Belg) of Ethiopia

Mesay Abebe Habtemariam Sr., National Meteorological Agency, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

An objective determination of the onset and cessation of the Belg rains of Ethiopia is important for agricultural applications as well as to enhance our understanding of the interannual variability of the rains of the season. Based on a quantitative study of daily rainfall data for 80 stations, we developed, the mean onset and cessation dates, and dry spells. The spatial and temporal variability of the onset and cessation dates are assessed and examined by testing different onset and cessation definitions for sample stations from the Belg -growing areas.

The study shows that there is more variability in the onset of the Belg rains than in its cessation. The highest variability in the onset was over the Northeastern and some places of central Ethiopia. The cessation dates of the Belg season have highest coefficient of variation over western, southwestern and west part of central Ethiopia.

The dry spell analysis shows that eastern, southeastern, northeastern and northwestern Ethiopia have long dry spell lengths in the Belg season.

extended abstract  Extended Abstract (1.4M)

Uploaded Presentation File(s):
Poster PP to AMS Student Conference.pdf

Poster Session 1, Student Conference General Poster Session
Sunday, 20 January 2008, 5:30 PM-7:00 PM, Exhibit Hall B

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