Evaluation of Coupled Model Forecasts of Ethiopian Highlands Summer Climate

This study evaluates seasonal forecasts of rainfall and maximum temperature across the Ethiopian highlands from coupled ensemble models in the period 1981–2006, by comparison with gridded observational products (NMA + GPCC/CRU3). Early season forecasts from the coupled forecast system (CFS) are stea...

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Main Author: Mark R. Jury
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2014-01-01
Series:Advances in Meteorology
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/894318
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author Mark R. Jury
author_facet Mark R. Jury
author_sort Mark R. Jury
collection DOAJ
description This study evaluates seasonal forecasts of rainfall and maximum temperature across the Ethiopian highlands from coupled ensemble models in the period 1981–2006, by comparison with gridded observational products (NMA + GPCC/CRU3). Early season forecasts from the coupled forecast system (CFS) are steadier than European community medium range forecast (ECMWF). CFS and ECMWF April forecasts of June–August (JJA) rainfall achieve significant fit (r2=0.27, 0.25, resp.), but ECMWF forecasts tend to have a narrow range with drought underpredicted. Early season forecasts of JJA maximum temperature are weak in both models; hence ability to predict water resource gains may be better than losses. One aim of seasonal climate forecasting is to ensure that crop yields keep pace with Ethiopia’s growing population. Farmers using prediction technology are better informed to avoid risk in dry years and generate surplus in wet years.
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spelling doaj-art-56cf72b6ac8e4627b263fea68ceaa2f02025-02-03T01:09:25ZengWileyAdvances in Meteorology1687-93091687-93172014-01-01201410.1155/2014/894318894318Evaluation of Coupled Model Forecasts of Ethiopian Highlands Summer ClimateMark R. Jury0University of Zululand, KwaDlangezwa 3886, South AfricaThis study evaluates seasonal forecasts of rainfall and maximum temperature across the Ethiopian highlands from coupled ensemble models in the period 1981–2006, by comparison with gridded observational products (NMA + GPCC/CRU3). Early season forecasts from the coupled forecast system (CFS) are steadier than European community medium range forecast (ECMWF). CFS and ECMWF April forecasts of June–August (JJA) rainfall achieve significant fit (r2=0.27, 0.25, resp.), but ECMWF forecasts tend to have a narrow range with drought underpredicted. Early season forecasts of JJA maximum temperature are weak in both models; hence ability to predict water resource gains may be better than losses. One aim of seasonal climate forecasting is to ensure that crop yields keep pace with Ethiopia’s growing population. Farmers using prediction technology are better informed to avoid risk in dry years and generate surplus in wet years.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/894318
spellingShingle Mark R. Jury
Evaluation of Coupled Model Forecasts of Ethiopian Highlands Summer Climate
Advances in Meteorology
title Evaluation of Coupled Model Forecasts of Ethiopian Highlands Summer Climate
title_full Evaluation of Coupled Model Forecasts of Ethiopian Highlands Summer Climate
title_fullStr Evaluation of Coupled Model Forecasts of Ethiopian Highlands Summer Climate
title_full_unstemmed Evaluation of Coupled Model Forecasts of Ethiopian Highlands Summer Climate
title_short Evaluation of Coupled Model Forecasts of Ethiopian Highlands Summer Climate
title_sort evaluation of coupled model forecasts of ethiopian highlands summer climate
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/894318
work_keys_str_mv AT markrjury evaluationofcoupledmodelforecastsofethiopianhighlandssummerclimate