Workneh et al. (2025) Recent Trends and Variability in Climatic Water Balance: Implications for Forestry Development in Ethiopia

⚠️ Warning: This summary was generated from the abstract only, as the full text was not available.

Identification

• Journal: Meteorological Applications
• Year: 2025
• Date: 2025-11-01
• Authors: Mulatu Workneh, Antensay Mekoya, Habtamu Achenef Tesema
• DOI: 10.1002/met.70124

Research Groups

Not specified in the provided abstract.

Short Summary

This study analyzed the climatology, trends, and variability of precipitation, reference evapotranspiration (ET₀), and climatic water balance (CWB) across Ethiopia and its 12 basins from 1980 to 2021, revealing significant spatial and temporal patterns with critical implications for forestry development.

Objective

• To investigate the climatology, trends, and variability of precipitation, reference evapotranspiration (ET₀), and climatic water balance (CWB) in Ethiopia and its 12 basins.

Study Configuration

• Spatial Scale: Ethiopia and its 12 major river basins.
• Temporal Scale: 1980 to 2021 (42 years).

Methodology and Data

• Models used: Not specified in the provided abstract.
• Data sources: Not explicitly stated, but analysis includes standardized rainfall anomaly analysis.

Main Results

• The mean annual rainfall was 773 mm, while the mean annual reference evapotranspiration (ET₀) was 958 mm.
• The mean annual climatic water balance (CWB) was -185 mm, with only four basins exhibiting a positive CWB.
• The Kiremt season (June–September) received the highest rainfall (393 mm), and the Belg season (February–May) showed high ET₀.
• Spatially, western Ethiopia experienced higher rainfall, whereas the northeast had higher ET₀.
• Nationally, both annual rainfall (2.01 mm/year) and ET₀ (0.40 mm/year) significantly increased.
• Rainfall variability was highest in the Bega season (October–January) with a coefficient of variation (CV) of 45.5% and lowest in Kiremt (CV = 21.9%).
• The CWB exhibited the highest variability among the analyzed hydroclimatic variables.
• Years with moderate to extreme dry and wet conditions were identified through standardized rainfall anomaly analysis.
• Positive rainfall trends in western and southern basins offer opportunities for faster tree growth, while decreasing rainfall and negative CWB in the northeast pose challenges requiring drought-tolerant species and water conservation.

Contributions

• Provides a comprehensive, long-term (1980-2021) analysis of hydroclimatic patterns, trends, and variability (precipitation, ET₀, CWB) across Ethiopia and its 12 basins.
• Identifies specific regional and seasonal hydroclimatic changes crucial for understanding water resource dynamics in Ethiopia.
• Offers direct, region-specific implications and strategies for forestry development and resilient management practices in Ethiopia, linking hydroclimatic patterns to practical applications.

Funding

Not specified in the provided abstract.

Citation

@article{Workneh2025Recent,
  author = {Workneh, Mulatu and Mekoya, Antensay and Tesema, Habtamu Achenef},
  title = {Recent Trends and Variability in Climatic Water Balance: Implications for Forestry Development in Ethiopia},
  journal = {Meteorological Applications},
  year = {2025},
  doi = {10.1002/met.70124},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1002/met.70124}
}