Moving and still: neighborhoods, human development, and the life course

Abstract

This study aimed to assess the long term variability of the rainfall and streamflow in Thuchila river, southern Malawi, from 1985 to 2016. Trends of monthly, seasonal, and annual rainfall and streamflow of Thuchila river were analyzed using Mann-Kendall and Pettit tests at a 5% significance level. The annual, wet, and dry season rainfall in the catchment revealed a statistically non-significant decreasing trend. The monthly rainfall showed statistically non-significant decreasing trends except for April, June, and October. The annual and dry season streamflow exhibited a non-significant decreasing trend, whereas the wet season revealed a non-significant increasing trend. Sen’s slope results were all in agreement with the Mann-Kendall findings. The Pettit test detected different change points for both rainfall and streamflow in the catchment. The dominant change points of decreasing trends appeared between 2005 and 2007. During this period, the country experienced extreme weather events that affected the rainfall pattern. Pearson correlation coefficient was also employed to understand the relationship between rainfall and streamflow. The correlation analysis of the monthly, annual, and seasonal levels showed a linear relationship between rainfall and streamflow in the catchment. The results revealed that the rainfall influenced the streamflow changes of Thuchila river. This vital information about the trends of the streamflow and rainfall in Thuchila catchment plays a crucial role in catchment management.