Updated west african rainbelt indices, 1919-1989

概要

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Tropical West African rainfall data at a one-degree latitude interval within the range 4°N-19°N, averaged over the longitude band of 5°W-5°E, are updated through 1990 by using monthly station rainfall data for the July-September period derived from the Global Historical Climatology Network (GHCN) data base. Making use of the latitudinal rainfall data, the West African rainbelt indices are calculated, (i.e., the latitude of its center of gravity and the total rainfall that occurs over the entire rainbelt zone). The century's worst Sahelian drought for the early 1980s is primarily associated with weakened convection over the entire West African rainbelt zone. During this period, the southward retreat of the rainbelt plays a secondary role in the drought conditions. The rainbelt behavior as related to the Sahelian droughts confirms the previous results of Shinoda (1990a). The slight increase in Sahelian rainfall for 1988-1989 is associated with the near-normal position and total rainfall of the rainbelt.
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