Climate variability in DR
Congo in general and in the Kongo Central Province in particular is well
established. However, rains related to variables such as frequency of rainy
days and duration of the rainy seasons was generally very little studied. This study aims to
investigate the influence of the climate event on rainfall patterns in the
south-western of the DRC. This is firstly to characterize the climate event
from the analysis of the air temperature, the frequency of rainy days and
duration of the rainy seasons. Furthermore compare the normal monthly rainfall
over the period 1962- 2012 to
clear the behavior of seasonal rainfall patterns. Climate variability is
manifested by temporal dynamic regressive temperatures, annual rainfall and a
decrease in the number of rainy days. A temperature increase of around 1℃ was observed from 1992 and the thermal peak was recorded in 1994 (>28℃).
The highest rainfall was recorded in 2006
(>2400 mm). These variabilities cause short periods of
intense rainfall leading to early droughts of the end of
season.
Cite this paper
Tshiabukole, K. , Khonde, P. , Muku, M. , Vumilia, K. , Lunekua, K. and Kankolongo, M. (2016). Influence of Climate Variability on Seasonal Rainfall Patterns in South-Western DR Congo. Open Access Library Journal, 3, e2952. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/oalib.1102952.
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