A non-homogeneous hidden Markov model (NHMM) is developed using a 40-year record (1950–1990) of daily rainfall at 11 stations in Tanzania and National Centers for Environmental Prediction-National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCEP-NCAR) re-analysis atmospheric fields of a number of meteorological variables. The following atmospheric fields, temperature at 1000 hPa, geo-potential height at 1000 hPa, meridional winds and zonal winds at 850 hPa, and zonal winds at the equator from 10 to 1000 hPa, in a region defined by 25∘S–25∘N and 25∘–75∘E are identified as appropriate predictors for the downscaling of the seasonal regime of daily rainfall in Tanzania. The NHMM is used to predict future rainfall patterns under a comparatively high greenhouse gas emissions scenario [Representative Concentration Pathway 8.5 (RCP8.5)], using predictors from the CMCC-CMS (Centro Mediterraneo sui Cambiamenti Climatici) simulations from 1950 to 2100. Instead of pre-specifying a fixed rainy season, the model considers seasonality of precipitation to be determined by the 21st century simulations of the atmospheric variables used as predictors. The future downscaled precipitation simulations for the RCP8.5 scenario indicate that in the 21st century Tanzania may experience: (1) a slight decrease in the number of wet days and seasonal rainfall inMAMand JJAS, but not in OND; (2) a reduction of annual total rainfall; and (3) an intensification of the frequency and intensity of extreme rainfall, as identified by 90th, 95th, and 99th percentiles.

Projecting changes in Tanzania rainfall for the 21st century / Cioffi, Francesco; Conticello, FEDERICO ROSARIO; Lall, U.. - In: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CLIMATOLOGY. - ISSN 0899-8418. - ELETTRONICO. - 36:13(2016), pp. 4297-4314. [10.1002/joc.4632]

Projecting changes in Tanzania rainfall for the 21st century

CIOFFI, Francesco
;
CONTICELLO, FEDERICO ROSARIO;Lall, U.
2016

Abstract

A non-homogeneous hidden Markov model (NHMM) is developed using a 40-year record (1950–1990) of daily rainfall at 11 stations in Tanzania and National Centers for Environmental Prediction-National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCEP-NCAR) re-analysis atmospheric fields of a number of meteorological variables. The following atmospheric fields, temperature at 1000 hPa, geo-potential height at 1000 hPa, meridional winds and zonal winds at 850 hPa, and zonal winds at the equator from 10 to 1000 hPa, in a region defined by 25∘S–25∘N and 25∘–75∘E are identified as appropriate predictors for the downscaling of the seasonal regime of daily rainfall in Tanzania. The NHMM is used to predict future rainfall patterns under a comparatively high greenhouse gas emissions scenario [Representative Concentration Pathway 8.5 (RCP8.5)], using predictors from the CMCC-CMS (Centro Mediterraneo sui Cambiamenti Climatici) simulations from 1950 to 2100. Instead of pre-specifying a fixed rainy season, the model considers seasonality of precipitation to be determined by the 21st century simulations of the atmospheric variables used as predictors. The future downscaled precipitation simulations for the RCP8.5 scenario indicate that in the 21st century Tanzania may experience: (1) a slight decrease in the number of wet days and seasonal rainfall inMAMand JJAS, but not in OND; (2) a reduction of annual total rainfall; and (3) an intensification of the frequency and intensity of extreme rainfall, as identified by 90th, 95th, and 99th percentiles.
2016
climate change; downscaling model; NHMM; rainfall; Tanzania; atmospheric science
01 Pubblicazione su rivista::01a Articolo in rivista
Projecting changes in Tanzania rainfall for the 21st century / Cioffi, Francesco; Conticello, FEDERICO ROSARIO; Lall, U.. - In: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CLIMATOLOGY. - ISSN 0899-8418. - ELETTRONICO. - 36:13(2016), pp. 4297-4314. [10.1002/joc.4632]
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11573/872305
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