Published Paper Details:

ABSTRACT Climate changes and variability in regional precipitation affect decreased agricultural production and potentially widespread food shortages. Africa has often shown rainfall variability and associated droughts leading to food shortages. Moreover, small scale spatial and temporal variability of the climate parameters in Northern Ethiopia, Tigray Region is highly complex and not well known yet or little is done recently. It is, therefore, essential to assess the temporal and spatial variability of rainfall and temperature so as to quantify its effects on socio-economic activities and specific challenges in the study areas. The study areas (Raya-Azebo and Raya-Alamata) are situated in the Raya Valley cluster, in the South zone of Tigray national regional state. In order to identify the monthly pattern of rainfall heterogeneity we used Precipitation Concentration Index. We found that, annual total rainfall shows high spatial and seasonal variability. In addition, belg season rainfall has an extreme inter-seasonal variability. Moreover, the study areas were characterized by episodic fluctuation of wet and dry years. This study emphasizes the helpfulness of PCI in distinguishing precipitation concentration and variability. It was observed that seasonal rainfall and PCI are changing and variable.