Evaluation of spatial and temporal characteristics of rainfall in Malawi: a case of data scarce region

• DOI: 10.1007/s00704-011-0413-0
• Publication Date: 2011-03-04T12:36:21Z
• Authors: Cosmo Ngongondo; Chong-Yu Xu; Lars Gottschalk; Berhanu Alemaw
• Keywords: Anomaly (physics); Trend analysis

This paper presents the methods, procedure and results in studying spatial temporal characteristics of rainfall Malawi, a data scarce region, between 1960 2006. Rainfall variables indicators from readings at 42 stations excluding Lake were analysed monthly, seasonal annual scales. In study, firstly subjected to quality checks through cumulative deviations test standard normal homogeneity test. Spatial variability was investigated using correlation function. Temporal trends Mann–Kendall linear regression methods. Heterogeneity monthly precipitation concentration index (PCI). Finally, inter-annual intra-annual tested normalized anomaly series (|AR|) PCI (|APCI|), respectively. The showed that (1) most revealed statistically non-significant decreasing for annual, seasonal, individual months March December 5% significance level. January February (the highest months), however, had overall positive but countrywide, suggesting more around these months. (2) analysis complex pattern countrywide with mean 1,095 mm centred south country 26%. (3) amongst only within first 20 km, typical areas strong small-scale climatic influence. (4) further characterised by unstable regimes, all PCIs than 10. (5) An increase found.