Climate Variability and its Impacts in Tanzania

This book provides an overview of the climate patterns and the impacts of climate variability in Tanzania. It is organized into six chapters Chapter one provide a brief description of the climate of Tanzania, its spatial and temporal patterns, and the main climate drivers including the role of Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ), East African Monsoon, ElNino Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and Tropical Cyclone in modulating spatial and temporal distribution of rainfall in Tanzania. This Chapter could also be very useful for teachers and secondary school students studying geography. Chapter two describes the spatial and temporal distribution of key climate elements including rainfall, maximum temperature, minimum temperature and relative humidity. The analysis of climatological statistics of these climate elements is provided using measures of central tendency (mean) and measures of variability (standard deviation and variance). Trend analysis of rainfall and temperature is also provided. This chapter could be very useful for those involved in climate change studies and dealing with designing climate change adaptation strategies. Chapter three provide a basic understanding of drought concepts including different types of droughts and approaches (Indices) used in drought monitoring. Historical assessment of recent droughts including frequency and magnitude of severe droughts is also provided. This chapter could also be very useful for those dealing with Disaster Risk Reduction. Chapter four describes a brief overview of the impacts of climate variability in Tanzania. Some cases of fatalities and infrastructural destruction caused by strong winds, heavy rainfall and flooding are described. Quantification of the socio-economic impacts of some of the historical severe droughts is also given. Chapter five addresses some of the options used by local communities and institutions for coping with the challenges of climate variability. These include the climate services provided by National Meteorological and Hydrological Services, Indigenous Knowledge in Weather and climate Prediction and Rainfall Enhancement. Chapter six provide a brief and a concise summary of the climate variability issues discussed, and some potential practical applications of some of the information discussed, including the potential application of the wind patterns and wind rose for exploitation of wind energy potential and in construction of runway. Potential application of the generated highest rainfall and temperature extremes in planning and designing is also discussed. For research and development purposes, the summary also captures the potential application of each of the ten questions reflected in each of the five chapters. The Book can be very useful for undergraduate and postgraduate students majoring in Meteorology, Climatology, Environmental Management and other Climate and Environmental related courses. The book will also be useful to Researchers, MSs and PhD students doing research related to climate variability and change.