Author(s)

Peter Matata^1*, Magreth Bushesha², John Msindai³

¹Tumbi Agricultural Research Institute, Tumbi, Tabora, Tanzania.
²Department of Geography, Open University of Tanzania, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
³Teoflo Kisanji University, Mbeya, Tanzania.

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 R² = 0.096 in Igunga and R² = 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.

Climate Variability, Rainfall, Temperature, Semiarid, Tanzania

Matata, P. , Bushesha, M. and Msindai, J. (2019) Assessing Rainfall and Temperature Changes in Semi-Arid Areas of Tanzania. American Journal of Climate Change, 8, 173-189. doi: 10.4236/ajcc.2019.82010.