Articles | Volume 12, issue 1
https://doi.org/10.5194/esd-12-17-2021
https://doi.org/10.5194/esd-12-17-2021
Research article
 | 
06 Jan 2021
Research article |  | 06 Jan 2021

Impact of precipitation and increasing temperatures on drought trends in eastern Africa

Sarah F. Kew, Sjoukje Y. Philip, Mathias Hauser, Mike Hobbins, Niko Wanders, Geert Jan van Oldenborgh, Karin van der Wiel, Ted I. E. Veldkamp, Joyce Kimutai, Chris Funk, and Friederike E. L. Otto

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Short summary
Motivated by the possible influence of rising temperatures, this study synthesises results from observations and climate models to explore trends (1900–2018) in eastern African (EA) drought measures. However, no discernible trends are found in annual soil moisture or precipitation. Positive trends in potential evaporation indicate that for irrigated regions more water is now required to counteract increased evaporation. Precipitation deficit is, however, the most useful indicator of EA drought.
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