Frequency and severity of drought in the LakeVictoria region (Kenya) and its effects on food security
Date
2007Author
Awange, J L
Aluoch, J
Ogallo, L A
Omulo, M
Omondi, P
Type
ArticleLanguage
enMetadata
Show full item recordAbstract
Using monthly and seasonal precipitation data for the period 1961–1999, we established
drought frequency and severity in relation to food security in the Lake Victoria region in Kenya. We
used percentiles together with time series analysis for a 40 yr period, with the lower 25% of the quartile
designated as the threshold values that indicate drought years. We then used percentiles and
Drought Severity Index (DSI) to ascertain the physical conditions and severity of the drought years.
The 1980s and 1990s were drier decades (the 1980s had more drought events than any other decade
considered in this study), with lower negative anomalies in comparison to the 1960s and 1970s, and
the number of drought events and their severity have been increasing in recent years (especially
during the 1990s). In general, drought affects the crop planting seasons of March to May (MAM) and
September to November (SON), and leads to increased food imports in the years following the
drought. If the present trends persist, the Lake Victoria region will face not only more severe drought
events, but also significant reductions in food security.
URI
http://s3.amazonaws.com/academia.edu.documents/31055423/c033p135.pdf?AWSAccessKeyId=AKIAIR6FSIMDFXPEERSA&Expires=1374136737&Signature=%2BKWjsuHkWkTVYV4wrAtjf3%2BiMlY%3D&response-content-disposition=inlinehttp://erepository.uonbi.ac.ke:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/48698
Citation
Awange, J. L., Aluoch, J., Ogallo, L. A., Omulo, M., & Omondi, P. (2007). Frequency and severity of drought in the Lake Victoria region (Kenya) and its effects on food security. Climate Research, 33(2), 135.Publisher
University of Nairobi College of Biological and Physical Sciences,University of Nairobi