Climate Change Variability Analysis in and around Jinka, Southern Ethiopia. With Special Emphasis on Temperature and Rainfall

Abstract

Purpose: Climate variability is a serious problem affecting the livelihoods of farmers in developing countries particularly those depend on rain fed agriculture. This study was carried out to investigate the extent of climate variability by using temperature and rainfall as key variables.Research Method: In this study the annual rainfall and temperature data of forty six years (1970- 2015) were analyzed using descriptive statistics such as mean, std. error of mean, variance, range, coefficient of variation, minimum and maximum values.Findings: The result of the study revealed that monthly rainfall variability was high both in dry month (CV=0.48) and peak rain month (CV=0.51). The result showed that from 1970 to 2015 the annual rainfall increased (R2=0.001) whereas the mean annual maximum and minimum temperature increased by 0.3620c and 0.3360c respectively. The linear trend line analysis shows a slightly increasing average annual rainfall, maximum and minimum temperature. The mean annual temperature of the area varies from a mean minimum of 21.20c, to a maximum of 22.80c with average temperature of 21.63 over the last forty six years.Research Limitations: This research is based on temperature and rainfall data of the study area.Originality: This study has shown rainfall and temperature variability over the last forty six years in Jinka station. In order to manage rainfall and temperature variability related risks, all concerned stakeholders should have to take into consideration for climate variability adaptation and mitigation strategies in order to minimize all potential risks and losses in the future.