42
terised by reduced mean monthly precipitation across the entire region compared to
the baseline. Anomalies in monthly rainfall (indicated by red shading in the centre
of Fig. 4.2, bottom right) are particularly acute in the northern, central and western
extents of the study area at the onset of the rainy season. The trend of reduced rainfall at the onset of the rainy season is projected to continue for the month of
November in the central and southern extent of the study area (including the entire
extent of Huíla province and majority of Bié and Huambo), whereas the majority of
Cuanza Sul and Malanje provinces are projected to benefit from increased rainfall
in November by 2050. The majority of the study area is projected to benefit from
increased rainfall by 2050 during the midsummer months from December to
February, with the exception of the southernmost extent of Huíla province. In March
and April, the last months of the traditional maize-growing season, rainfall across
the study area is projected to follow two distinct trends: (i) reduced rainfall in the
southern and eastern areas, particularly Huíla, Bié and the south-eastern extent of
Huambo; and (ii) increased rainfall in the central, western and northern areas, particularly Malanje, northern Huambo, and the highland interior of Cuanza Sul and
Benguela provinces. No major changes to rainfall are projected for the dry winter
months of May to August.
Fig. 4.2 Predicted effects of climate change in study region on average monthly minimum temperature (Tmin) (left), average monthly mean temperature (Tmean) (centre), and mean monthly
precipitation (Precip) (right) by the year 2050 for the month of October. Top row depicts baseline
(current) climate, centre row depicts predicted future (2050) climate and bottom row indicates
anomalies between the two time periods
R. Hunter and O. Crespo
terised by reduced mean monthly precipitation across the entire region compared to
the baseline. Anomalies in monthly rainfall (indicated by red shading in the centre
of Fig. 4.2, bottom right) are particularly acute in the northern, central and western
extents of the study area at the onset of the rainy season. The trend of reduced rainfall at the onset of the rainy season is projected to continue for the month of
November in the central and southern extent of the study area (including the entire
extent of Huíla province and majority of Bié and Huambo), whereas the majority of
Cuanza Sul and Malanje provinces are projected to benefit from increased rainfall
in November by 2050. The majority of the study area is projected to benefit from
increased rainfall by 2050 during the midsummer months from December to
February, with the exception of the southernmost extent of Huíla province. In March
and April, the last months of the traditional maize-growing season, rainfall across
the study area is projected to follow two distinct trends: (i) reduced rainfall in the
southern and eastern areas, particularly Huíla, Bié and the south-eastern extent of
Huambo; and (ii) increased rainfall in the central, western and northern areas, particularly Malanje, northern Huambo, and the highland interior of Cuanza Sul and
Benguela provinces. No major changes to rainfall are projected for the dry winter
months of May to August.
Fig. 4.2 Predicted effects of climate change in study region on average monthly minimum temperature (Tmin) (left), average monthly mean temperature (Tmean) (centre), and mean monthly
precipitation (Precip) (right) by the year 2050 for the month of October. Top row depicts baseline
(current) climate, centre row depicts predicted future (2050) climate and bottom row indicates
anomalies between the two time periods
R. Hunter and O. Crespo