Determining the Rainfall Characteristics and Analyzing its Time Tendencies Over the Decade 1987-1996 in Dschang Division, West Region – Cameroon

Abstract

Primary daily rainfall data are considered to fulfill this work. Each month has been divided into six equal five days sub periods, except the sixth with either 3 or 4 days in February and 5 or 6 days in the remaining months. Sub period daily, monthly and rainy season statistical characteristics have been determined, namely the numbers of rainy days, cumulative rainfalls, estimated daily rainfalls and corresponding standard deviations. These characteristics calculated also for the whole years enabled us to estimate the accurate beginnings and ends of rainy seasons in March and October, respectively. Some decreases of this duration have been detected particularly around the beginnings which tended to occur later in April. Concerning the quantities of water fallen during a rain, it has been observed that they were slowly decreasing from year to year, confirming the degradation of the rainy regime in the area. These diminutions could be easily quantified based on the presented different tables.