| dc.description.abstract | This study assessed the skill of ECHAM 4.5 in simulating rainfall on seasonal time scales
over the GHA region for the period Jan 1961- Dee 2008. The rainfall seasons considered
were, March -April-May (MAM) and October- November- December (OND).
The data used in the study included the observed seasonal rainfall totals for January 1961-
December 2008 obtained from IGAD Climate Prediction and applications Centre (ICPAC),
Nairobi and ECHAM 4.5 model hindcast data sets for the same period obtained from
International Research Institute for Climate and Society (IRI). The model has 24 members,
where each member represents an ensemble run. The ensemble runs are based on similar initial
physical conditions but different initial atmospheric conditions. The atmospheric initial
conditions for the 24 members differ because they are generated by adding different small
noise perturbations to the same atmospheric state several months before the starting dates.
The methods for analysis included spatial distribution comparison, correlation analysis, root
mean square error analysis, categorical statistics and the two-sample Kolmogorov-Smirnov
test.
The spatial distribution patterns of the observed rainfall did not wholly match with patterns
from any of the 24 members or with the pattern of the mean of all 24 members. However, the
patterns of some individual members only had small differences with the observation.
The results from correlation analyses indicated bigger coefficients for the equatorial sector
(SON to 50S) in both seasons. Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) values were also small in the
equatorial sector. The northern sector of the region had small coefficients and big RMSE
values in both seasons. Large correlation coefficients were obtained for the OND season.
RMSE values were also low for the OND season. Similarly, Two-Sample Kolmogorov-
Smirnov test results had higher P values for most of the region in the OND season and in
areas with features that enhance convection. Categorical statistics that included Bias, False
Alarm Ratio and Probability of Detection confirmed the higher skill for the OND season.
III
For all the analyses made the mean of all 24 members did not show much skill in predicting
rainfall, indicating that not all members are appropriate for forecasting in the GHA region.
Some individual members, namely, 15, 18, 21, 22 and 24 performed better than the mean of
all 24 members in most instances. Comparing the skill of the mean of the 5 members and that
of the mean of the 24 members, the mean of 5 members has more skill.
When considering individual members and the mean of all 24 members. The analyses show
that the model has higher accuracy and skill in the equatorial sector of the region and the
OND season. This shows that the model simulates rainfall better for the OND season and the
equatorial sector. When fewer members were used there was considerable improvement of
model accuracy and skill in both seasons and mostly in the northern sector of the region.
The simulation of seasonal rainfall over the GHA region by ECHAM 4.5 is better when a
few members which showed higher skill individually are averaged. The study therefore
recommends that the mean of the 5 members could be used for seasonal forecasting in the
GHA region. The use of 5 members would help to reduce the computing time and the long
waiting time for releasing early warning climate products that are required to reduce the
negative impacts of the climate extremes over the region. Improvement of early warning will
reduce negative effects of climate extremes on agricultural production, hydropower
generation, water use, and water availability at household level caused by floods and
droughts. | en |
