Spatiotemporal Variability, Trends, and Potential Impacts of Extreme Rainfall Events in the Sudano-Sahelian Region of Cameroon

• Published in: Atmosphere 2022-10, Vol.13 (10), p.1599
• Main Authors: Njouenwet, Ibrahim, Tchotchou, Lucie Angennes Djiotang, Ayugi, Brian Odhiambo, Guenang, Guy Merlin, Vondou, Derbetini Appolinaire, Nouayou, Robert
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Agriculture; Annual rainfall; Aquatic resources; Breeding of animals; Cameroon; Change detection; Climate change; Climatic changes; Climatic indexes; Cotton; Drinking water; Drought; Droughts; Environmental aspects; Environmental impact; Environmental risk; extreme precipitation indices; Extreme weather; Floods; Food security; Food sources; Food supply; Forecasts and trends; Hydroelectric power; Hydroelectric power generation; Hydrologic data; Hypotheses; Influence; Irrigation; Irrigation water; Long-term changes; Monthly rainfall; Monthly rainfall data; Navigation; Precipitation; Precipitation distribution; Rain and rainfall; Rainfall; Rainfall-climatic change relationships; Rivers; Seasonal distribution; Seasonal precipitation; Seasonal variations; Seasonality; Sudano-Sahelian regions; Trend analysis; Trends; Water resources; Water sources
• ISSN: 2073-4433; 2073-4433
• DOI: 10.3390/atmos13101599

The Sudano-Sahelian region of Cameroon is mainly drained by the Benue, Chari, and Logone rivers; which are very useful for water resources; especially for irrigation, hydropower generation, and navigation. Long-term changes in mean and extreme rainfall events in the region may be of crucial importance in understanding the impacts of climate change. Daily and monthly rainfall data from fifteen climate stations in the study area from 1980 to 2018 and measurements from the Expert Team on Climate Change Detection and Indices (ETCCDI) were estimated using the non-parametric innovative trend analysis (ITA) and the Sen slope estimator. The precipitation concentration index (PCI), the precipitation concentration degree (PCD), and the precipitation concentration period (PCP) were used to explore the spatiotemporal variations in the characteristics of rainfall concentrations. The results showed complex spatial patterns of the annual average PCI values across the Sudano-Sahelian region; which varied from values lower in the south to higher in the far north, which were the characteristic of seasonality and a strong seasonal precipitation distribution throughout the year; respectively. The PCD results revealed that the annual rainy days in a year decreased from the south to the far north. Additionally, the PCP results indicated a slightly later occurrence of precipitation. A significant trend toward more intense–extreme rainfall events was observed in most parts of the study area, but a significant trend toward more humid days was observed in the southeastern part. Trends in dry days significantly increased in the central and southwestern parts of the study area. This could mean that the prevalence of flood and drought risks are higher in the study area. Overall, the increase in annual rainfall could benefit the hydro-power sector, agricultural irrigation, the availability of potable water sources, and food security.