Assessing Rainfall and Temperature Changes in Semi-Arid Areas of Tanzania

Abstract

This paper examines the variability of rainfall and temperature in Igunga and Kishapu Districts using time series data (1985 to 2016) from Tanzania Meteorological Agency. The regression analysis results show rainfall variability of R 2 = 0.096 in Igunga and R 2 = 0.186 in Kishapu which implies that about 0.96% and 1.86% of the changes in rainfall across the districts are associated with changes in weather variables. A considerable change of amount of rains was evident in Igunga than in Kishapu District. In both districts there was a change of months with the most rains. Generally rainfall showed a decreasing trend in both districts. The paper also examined temperature trends in the two districts; the findings showed an increasing trend throughout October in both districts. From this point of view, higher temperatures can increase evapo-transpiration that in turn can have an effect on moisture for the crops adversely affecting pasture productivity for livestock, and leading to a shortage of water for both crops and livestock. Annual rainfall variability trends, however, increased indicating that annual variability was somewhat a common feature in the study districts. So, districts efforts should be directed towards the support of crop and livestock adjustments in order to buffer impacts of rainfall and temperature variability during critical periods for growing of crops and pastures.

Land Cover Change and Its Socio-Economic Impact on the Residents of the Mara River, Kenya

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Assessing the impacts of climate change and variability on maize post-harvest system at Kongwa and Kondoa District in Tanzania

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Climate Change-Induced Migration:

“…As a result, people move to areas with similar socio-economic systems as they find it easy to cope. However, the future of these regions currently considered as "better places" remains questionable because persistent reception of migrants in these areas could result in their being overstretched as if their carrying capacity was nonfinite (Malthus 1986). Some of the questions that one may ask include: For how long and by how much can these regions continue to receive migrants without compromising their ability to support life?…”

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