West African Monsoon Rainfall in a Warming Climate

West African Monsoon Rainfall in a Warming Climate PDF Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 92

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Book Description

West African Monsoon Rainfall in a Warming Climate

West African Monsoon Rainfall in a Warming Climate PDF Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 92

Get Book Here

Book Description


African Handbook of Climate Change Adaptation

African Handbook of Climate Change Adaptation PDF Author: Walter Leal Filho
Publisher: Springer
ISBN: 9783030451059
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 2838

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Book Description
This open access book discusses current thinking and presents the main issues and challenges associated with climate change in Africa. It introduces evidences from studies and projects which show how climate change adaptation is being - and may continue to be successfully implemented in African countries. Thanks to its scope and wide range of themes surrounding climate change, the ambition is that this book will be a lead publication on the topic, which may be regularly updated and hence capture further works. Climate change is a major global challenge. However, some geographical regions are more severly affected than others. One of these regions is the African continent. Due to a combination of unfavourable socio-economic and meteorological conditions, African countries are particularly vulnerable to climate change and its impacts. The recently released IPCC special report "Global Warming of 1.5o C" outlines the fact that keeping global warming by the level of 1.5o C is possible, but also suggested that an increase by 2o C could lead to crises with crops (agriculture fed by rain could drop by 50% in some African countries by 2020) and livestock production, could damage water supplies and pose an additonal threat to coastal areas. The 5th Assessment Report produced by IPCC predicts that wheat may disappear from Africa by 2080, and that maize— a staple—will fall significantly in southern Africa. Also, arid and semi-arid lands are likely to increase by up to 8%, with severe ramifications for livelihoods, poverty eradication and meeting the SDGs. Pursuing appropriate adaptation strategies is thus vital, in order to address the current and future challenges posed by a changing climate. It is against this background that the "African Handbook of Climate Change Adaptation" is being published. It contains papers prepared by scholars, representatives from social movements, practitioners and members of governmental agencies, undertaking research and/or executing climate change projects in Africa, and working with communities across the African continent. Encompassing over 100 contribtions from across Africa, it is the most comprehensive publication on climate change adaptation in Africa ever produced.

Meteorology of Tropical West Africa

Meteorology of Tropical West Africa PDF Author: Douglas J. Parker
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
ISBN: 1118391306
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 490

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Book Description
Meteorology of tropical West Africa: the Forecasters’ Handbook presents the science and practice of weather forecasting for an important region of the tropics. Connecting basic theory with forecasting practice, the book provides a unique training volume for operational weather forecasters, and is also suitable for students of tropical meteorology. The West African region contains a number of archetypal climatic zones, meaning that the science of its weather and climate applies to many other tropical regions. West Africa also exhibits some of the world’s most remarkable weather systems, making it an inspiring region for students to investigate. The weather of West Africa affects human livelihoods on a daily basis, and can contribute to hardship, poverty and mortality. Therefore, the ability to understand and predict the weather has the potential to deliver significant benefits to both society and economies. The book includes comprehensive background material alongside documentation of weather forecasting methods. Many examples taken from observations of West African weather systems are included and online case-studies are referenced widely.

Influence of the Sea Surface Temperature Decadal Variability on Tropical Precipitation: West African and South American Monsoon

Influence of the Sea Surface Temperature Decadal Variability on Tropical Precipitation: West African and South American Monsoon PDF Author: Julián Villamayor
Publisher: Springer
ISBN: 3030203271
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 238

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Book Description
In this book the Sea Surface Temperature (SST) patterns of decadal-to-multidecadal variability observed and simulated by 17 general circulation models (GCMs) are analyzed. Furthermore, their impact on precipitation in West Africa and South America and the atmospheric mechanisms involved are assessed. Through this analysis, the effect of external forcings on these impacts and the relative contribution of decadal-to-multidecadal variability patterns of SST to precipitation are presented in depth. Finally, a humid period in the West African region of the Sahel during the 19th century, previously little documented, is analyzed using an atmospheric GCM. The monsoons of West Africa and South America have shown changes in the timescales of a few decades. Previous work suggests a relationship with patterns of decadal-to-multidecadal variability of SST, such as global warming and the Atlantic and Pacific variability. However, the dynamics underlying this relationship and its simulation by current GCMs had not been addressed in a consistent manner. This is the main motivation of this book. The results of this book not only represent a great step forward in our understanding of the changes in the precipitation regimes of the studied regions, but they can also be of great help for the improvement of decadal prediction systems and the associated social consequences.

Climate Variability

Climate Variability PDF Author: Aondover Tarhule
Publisher: BoD – Books on Demand
ISBN: 9535111876
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 218

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Book Description
As societies transition to evidence-based adaptation and management there is increasing recognition of the need for understanding climate change and variability dynamics and impacts at regional levels and for various activities. This book is a contribution toward that goal. Readers interested in climate change management will find detailed discussions of climatic variability dynamics in selected regions as well as new innovative ways of monitoring climate change, assessing climate risks, and predicting impacts. Those interested in refreshing the fundamentals of climate change and climate variability will find a very accessible review of the status of knowledge on the subject, including a balanced interrogation of available evidence. In an attempt to keep the book accessible, every effort was made to minimize technical jargon without compromising scientific accuracy. The result should be useful to researchers, practitioners, and policy makers.

Remote Sensing Observations of the West African Monsoon

Remote Sensing Observations of the West African Monsoon PDF Author: Bernhard Pospichal
Publisher: Sudwestdeutscher Verlag Fur Hochschulschriften AG
ISBN: 9783838115740
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 124

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Book Description
Weather and climate in West Africa are determined by the pronounced contrast between tropical, moist air masses over the Gulf of Guinea and the dry desert climate over the Sahara. This contrast results in an atmospheric circulation system which is called "West African monsoon." In the past, the knowledge about the factors that control the monsoon and its strength was limited due to the small number of high-quality observations. Therefore, little is known about the reasons for the significant decline of annual rainfall over the Sahel area during the past 40 years which represents the most pronounced climatic signal worldwide. During the past few years, intensive atmospheric observations were performed in the framework of the international project "African Monsoon Multidisciplinary Analyses" (AMMA) in order to obtain high-quality data and to improve the process understanding. This work gathered and analyzed remote sensing observations which were performed during the AMMA field campaigns, giving new insight into diurnal and annual cycles of atmospheric parameters, such as water vapor, temperature profiles, cloud cover, or wind with a temporal resolution never reached before.

Climatology of West Africa

Climatology of West Africa PDF Author: Derek F. Hayward
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 1000692698
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 502

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Book Description
Originally published in 1987, this book brings together information previously buried in specialist sources and makes it available to the student in a non-technical and well-illustrated synthesis. It builds a clear and detailed picture of the climates of West Africa, describing and explaining them and showing how crucial this understanding is to everyday life. The climate’s relevance to water resources, agriculture, health and industry is systematically considered.

Global Monsoon System, The: Research And Forecast (2nd Edition)

Global Monsoon System, The: Research And Forecast (2nd Edition) PDF Author: Chih-pei Chang
Publisher: World Scientific
ISBN: 9814460680
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 609

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Book Description
This book presents a current review of the science of monsoon research and forecasting. The contents are based on the invited reviews presented at the World Meteorological Organization's Fourth International Workshop on Monsoons in late 2008, with subsequent manuscripts revised from 2009 to early 2010. The book builds on the concept that the monsoons in various parts of the globe can be viewed as components of an integrated global monsoon system, while emphasizing that significant region-specific characteristics are present in individual monsoon regions. The topics covered include all major monsoon regions and time scales (mesoscale, synoptic, intraseasonal, interannual, decadal, and climate change). It is intended to provide an updated comprehensive review of the current status of knowledge, modeling capability, and future directions in the research of monsoon systems around the world.

Adaptation to Climate Change and Variability in Rural West Africa

Adaptation to Climate Change and Variability in Rural West Africa PDF Author: Joseph A. Yaro
Publisher: Springer
ISBN: 3319314998
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 249

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Book Description
This book presents conceptual and empirical discussions of adaptation to climate change/variability in West Africa. Highlighting different countries’ experiences in adaptation by different socio-economic groups and efforts at building their adaptive capacity, it offers readers a holistic understanding of adaptation on the basis of contextual and generic sources of adaptive capacity. Focusing on adaptation to climate change/variability is critical because the developmental challenges West Africa faces are increasingly intertwined with its climate history. Today, climate change is a major developmental issue for agrarian rural communities with high percentages of the population earning a living directly or indirectly from the natural environment. This makes them highly vulnerable to climate-driven ecological change, in addition to threats in the broader political economic context. It is imperative that rural people adapt to climate change, but their ability to successfully do so may be limited by competing risks and vulnerabilities. As such, elucidating those vulnerabilities and sources of strength with regard to the adaptive capacities needed to support successful adaptation and avoid maladaptation is critical for future policy formulation. Though the empirical discussion is geographically based on West Africa, its applicability in terms of the processes, structures, needs, strategies, and recommendations for policy transcends the region and provides useful lessons for understanding adaptation broadly in the developing world.

Understanding Rainfall Variability Over West Africa and Climate Sensitivity in the Tropics

Understanding Rainfall Variability Over West Africa and Climate Sensitivity in the Tropics PDF Author: Gang Zhang (Ph. D.)
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 135

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Book Description
West African rainfall plays an important role in tropical climate and hydrological cycle. This study aims to advance our understanding of the West African rainfall across different timescales, from the diurnal cycle to interannual variations. Then, the study is extended to understand the climate sensitivity in the tropics with an increase of greenhouse gases. First, on a short timescale, the diurnal cycle of warm season rainfall over West Africa is investigated. In both the climatology and the 2006 case study, most of West Africa shows a single diurnal peak of rainfall in either the afternoon or at night. Afternoon rainfall peaks are associated with an unstable lower troposphere. Nocturnal rainfall peaks are associated with rainfall systems propagating westward. They occur most frequently about 3°-10° of longitude downstream of regions with afternoon rainfall peaks. Rainfall systems in the convection-permitting simulation show similar westward propagation with afternoon peaks associated with elevated topography and nocturnal peaks downstream of the topographic afternoon rainfall regions. However, the model fails to reproduce the observed afternoon rainfall peaks in several regions far away from the downstream of elevated topography. Second, on a longer timescale, the climatology and interannual variations of the West African monsoon demise are investigated using the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission and the Global Precipitation Climatology Project precipitation datasets along with the ERA-Interim reanalysis. During monsoon demise, the rainfall maximum progresses southward smoothly from the Sahel to the Gulf of Guinea. The climatological monsoon demise date is October 20th. The demise date varies between October 5th and 30th. An early (late) demise is associated with an anomalously strong (weak) North Atlantic subtropical high. The monsoon season total rainfall is found to be significantly correlated with the demise date. Finally, idealized regional model simulations are used to understand the climate sensitivity over the broad tropical region. The model is configured with idealized continents and oceans. With a doubling of CO2, the land and the ocean warm at different rates. The changes of the continental heat lows, subtropical highs and land-based rainfall in the tropics are explored and linked to the surface warming.