TITLE:
Trends of Temperature Extreme Indices over Arusha and Kilimanjaro Regions in Tanzania
AUTHORS:
Ladislaus Benedict Chang’a, Lovina Peter Japheth, Agnes Lawrence Kijazi, Elisia Hamisi Zobanya, Leila Francis Muhoma, Meshack Anton Mliwa, Jafari Swalehe Chobo
KEYWORDS:
Climate Extreme, Warm Night, Cold Night, Extreme Temperature, Indices, NCMP
JOURNAL NAME:
Atmospheric and Climate Sciences,
Vol.11 No.3,
July
1,
2021
ABSTRACT: The
study aimed at analyzing the trends and variability of temperature extremes over the northeastern highlands in Tanzania, specifically over Arusha and
Kilimanjaro regions. Quality controlled mean monthly, daily maximum and minimum
temperature data for the period 1961 to 2020, obtained from Tanzania Meteorological Authority, were
used in the study. Rclimdex and the National Climate Monitoring Products (NMCP)
software, developed by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), were
used for computation of the indices at a monthly, seasonal and annual time scale.
The computed indices were also subjected to trend analysis to determine their
direction and magnitude of change. Extraction and assessment of the top five
highest and lowest maximum and minimum temperatures were also done. Increasing trends of temperature anomalies for seasonal and
annual timescales were observed for both Arusha and Kilimanjaro regions. Also, the
increasing trends of warm and extreme warm days and nights and relatively
increasing trends of cold and extreme cold days and nights were observed for
both regions. The highest ever recorded temperatures since the establishment of
the two stations were 36.3?C observed on 16th February 2011 and 38.6?C
observed on 22nd February 2005 for Arusha and Kilimanjaro
respectively. These results indicate that The last two decades have been
characterized by enhanced warming, which is consistent with overall global
temperature trend patterns as depicted in recent IPCC reports and the report of
the State of Climate in Africa.