This paper investigated the long-term trends in precipitation from 16 stations located in the lower Shire catchment in Malawi over the period 1953–2010. The results indicate that annual precipitation has increased, whereas, monthly precipitation revealed an upward trend in wet seasons (November to April) and a downward trend in dry seasons (May to October). The monthly peak trend analysis has shown upward trend in rainy months at all stations.
This paper investigated the long-term trends in precipitation from 16 stations located in the...
Review status: this discussion paper is a preprint. It has been under review for the journal Hydrology and Earth System Sciences (HESS). The manuscript was not accepted for further review after discussion.
Spatial and temporal Trend Analysis of Long Term rainfall records in data-poor catchments with missing data, a case study of Lower Shire floodplain in Malawi for the Period 1953–2010
Rabee Rustum1,Adebayo J. Adeloye2,and Faidess Mwale3Rabee Rustum et al.Rabee Rustum1,Adebayo J. Adeloye2,and Faidess Mwale3
1School of Energy, Geoscience, Infrastructure and Society, Heriot-Watt University, UK , Dubai Campus, Dubai International Academic City, P O Box 294345, Dubai, UAE
2School of Energy, Geoscience, Infrastructure and Society, Heriot-Watt University, UK, Edinburgh Campus, EH14 4AS
3Faidess Dumbizgani Mwale, Head of Department & Senior Lecturer in Hydrology and Water Resources Management Department of Civil Engineering, University of Malawi – The Polytechnic, P/Bag 303, Blantyre 3, Malawi
1School of Energy, Geoscience, Infrastructure and Society, Heriot-Watt University, UK , Dubai Campus, Dubai International Academic City, P O Box 294345, Dubai, UAE
2School of Energy, Geoscience, Infrastructure and Society, Heriot-Watt University, UK, Edinburgh Campus, EH14 4AS
3Faidess Dumbizgani Mwale, Head of Department & Senior Lecturer in Hydrology and Water Resources Management Department of Civil Engineering, University of Malawi – The Polytechnic, P/Bag 303, Blantyre 3, Malawi
Received: 05 Oct 2017 – Accepted for review: 19 Oct 2017 – Discussion started: 01 Nov 2017
Abstract. This paper investigated the long-term trends in precipitation from 16 stations located in the lower Shire catchment in Malawi over the period 1953–2010. Annual trend analysis was first considered, and in order to take into account seasonality and serial correlation, the different months of the year are considered. Trend significance was determined using the nonparametric Mann-Kendall (MK) test statistic while the determination of the trends magnitudes was achieved using Sen’s slope method. The homogeneity of trends was examined using the Van Belle and Hughes method. The results indicate that annual precipitation has increased, whereas, monthly precipitation revealed an upward trend in wet seasons (November to April) and a downward trend in dry seasons (May to October). The monthly peak trend analysis has shown upward trend in rainy months at all stations.
This paper investigated the long-term trends in precipitation from 16 stations located in the lower Shire catchment in Malawi over the period 1953–2010. The results indicate that annual precipitation has increased, whereas, monthly precipitation revealed an upward trend in wet seasons (November to April) and a downward trend in dry seasons (May to October). The monthly peak trend analysis has shown upward trend in rainy months at all stations.
This paper investigated the long-term trends in precipitation from 16 stations located in the...