Comparative analysis of long-term precipitation trends and its implication in the Modjo catchment, central Ethiopia

Understanding trends and variability of precipitation is essential to improve water resources utilization as well as agricultural activities. This study aims to investigate the spatiotemporal trends and variability of rainfall in the Modjo watershed, central Ethiopia. The Mann-Kendall trend (M–K) te...

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Main Authors: Kokeb Zena Besha, Tamene Adugna Demissie, Fekadu Fufa Feyessa
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: IWA Publishing 2022-11-01
Series:Journal of Water and Climate Change
Subjects:
Online Access:http://jwcc.iwaponline.com/content/13/11/3883
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author Kokeb Zena Besha
Tamene Adugna Demissie
Fekadu Fufa Feyessa
author_facet Kokeb Zena Besha
Tamene Adugna Demissie
Fekadu Fufa Feyessa
author_sort Kokeb Zena Besha
collection DOAJ
description Understanding trends and variability of precipitation is essential to improve water resources utilization as well as agricultural activities. This study aims to investigate the spatiotemporal trends and variability of rainfall in the Modjo watershed, central Ethiopia. The Mann-Kendall trend (M–K) test, innovative trend analysis (ITA) and Sen's slope estimator were used to determine temporal trends, while the inverse distance weighted interpolation technique was adopted to visualize the spatial trends in time series. The result showed that complex patterns of rainfall variability that range from 16 to 59%, 18 to 63%, and 50 to 90% for the annual, summer, and spring seasons, respectively was observed over the study watershed. The result also indicated that significant trend (p < 0.05) in annual rainfall was detected only in 28.6% and 42.9% of the stations under the M-K test and ITA method, respectively, which indicates relatively more significant trends are displayed by the ITA method than the M–K test. At the seasonal scale, positive trends have been more dominant in the summer season (Z > 0, SITA > 0), whereas negative trends (Z < 0, SITA < 0) were detected in the spring season. Comparatively, the ITA method is found to be robust and allows more detailed trend analysis results using graphical illustrations for extreme events. The study concludes that the increasing and decreasing trends in summer and spring rainfall patterns could have implications leading to an increase in extreme events and lower agricultural productivity, respectively. The result suggests the need for planning effective adaptation strategies at the regional and local scales. HIGHLIGHTS Comparative trend analysis approach was followed using the classical M–K test and ITA method.; The spatiotemporal trend is analyzed at station level which is not a common approach.; The study indicates the ITA method displays more significant trends than the M–K test.; Increasing extreme events and lower agricultural productivity were identified as the major implications in the future.; Establishing effective adaptation strategies in such a rain-fed agricultural watershed is needed.;
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spelling doaj.art-9915daab115b4d9f90ab688622851d932022-12-22T04:21:28ZengIWA PublishingJournal of Water and Climate Change2040-22442408-93542022-11-0113113883390510.2166/wcc.2022.234234Comparative analysis of long-term precipitation trends and its implication in the Modjo catchment, central EthiopiaKokeb Zena Besha0Tamene Adugna Demissie1Fekadu Fufa Feyessa2 Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Jimma Institute of Technology, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Jimma Institute of Technology, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Jimma Institute of Technology, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia Understanding trends and variability of precipitation is essential to improve water resources utilization as well as agricultural activities. This study aims to investigate the spatiotemporal trends and variability of rainfall in the Modjo watershed, central Ethiopia. The Mann-Kendall trend (M–K) test, innovative trend analysis (ITA) and Sen's slope estimator were used to determine temporal trends, while the inverse distance weighted interpolation technique was adopted to visualize the spatial trends in time series. The result showed that complex patterns of rainfall variability that range from 16 to 59%, 18 to 63%, and 50 to 90% for the annual, summer, and spring seasons, respectively was observed over the study watershed. The result also indicated that significant trend (p < 0.05) in annual rainfall was detected only in 28.6% and 42.9% of the stations under the M-K test and ITA method, respectively, which indicates relatively more significant trends are displayed by the ITA method than the M–K test. At the seasonal scale, positive trends have been more dominant in the summer season (Z > 0, SITA > 0), whereas negative trends (Z < 0, SITA < 0) were detected in the spring season. Comparatively, the ITA method is found to be robust and allows more detailed trend analysis results using graphical illustrations for extreme events. The study concludes that the increasing and decreasing trends in summer and spring rainfall patterns could have implications leading to an increase in extreme events and lower agricultural productivity, respectively. The result suggests the need for planning effective adaptation strategies at the regional and local scales. HIGHLIGHTS Comparative trend analysis approach was followed using the classical M–K test and ITA method.; The spatiotemporal trend is analyzed at station level which is not a common approach.; The study indicates the ITA method displays more significant trends than the M–K test.; Increasing extreme events and lower agricultural productivity were identified as the major implications in the future.; Establishing effective adaptation strategies in such a rain-fed agricultural watershed is needed.;http://jwcc.iwaponline.com/content/13/11/3883climate changecomparative analysismodjo catchmenttrends
spellingShingle Kokeb Zena Besha
Tamene Adugna Demissie
Fekadu Fufa Feyessa
Comparative analysis of long-term precipitation trends and its implication in the Modjo catchment, central Ethiopia
Journal of Water and Climate Change
climate change
comparative analysis
modjo catchment
trends
title Comparative analysis of long-term precipitation trends and its implication in the Modjo catchment, central Ethiopia
title_full Comparative analysis of long-term precipitation trends and its implication in the Modjo catchment, central Ethiopia
title_fullStr Comparative analysis of long-term precipitation trends and its implication in the Modjo catchment, central Ethiopia
title_full_unstemmed Comparative analysis of long-term precipitation trends and its implication in the Modjo catchment, central Ethiopia
title_short Comparative analysis of long-term precipitation trends and its implication in the Modjo catchment, central Ethiopia
title_sort comparative analysis of long term precipitation trends and its implication in the modjo catchment central ethiopia
topic climate change
comparative analysis
modjo catchment
trends
url http://jwcc.iwaponline.com/content/13/11/3883
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AT tameneadugnademissie comparativeanalysisoflongtermprecipitationtrendsanditsimplicationinthemodjocatchmentcentralethiopia
AT fekadufufafeyessa comparativeanalysisoflongtermprecipitationtrendsanditsimplicationinthemodjocatchmentcentralethiopia