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Precipitation variability and trends in Ghana: An intercomparison of observational and reanalysis products

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  • R. Manzanas
  • L. Amekudzi
  • K. Preko
  • S. Herrera
  • J. Gutiérrez

Abstract

Inter-annual variability and trends of annual/seasonal precipitation totals in Ghana are analyzed considering different gridded observational (gauge- and/or satellite-based) and reanalysis products. A quality-controlled dataset formed by fourteen gauges from the Ghana Meteorological Agency (GMet) is used as reference for the period 1961–2010. Firstly, a good agreement is found between GMet and all the observational products in terms of variability, with better results for the gauge-based products—correlations in the range of 0.7–1.0 and nearly null biases—than for the satellite-gauge merged and satellite-derived products. In contrast, reanalyses exhibit a very poor performance, with correlations below 0.4 and large biases in most of the cases. Secondly, a Mann-Kendall trend analysis is carried out. In most cases, GMet data reveal the existence of predominant decreasing (increasing) trends for the first (second) half of the period of study, 1961–1985 (1986–2010). Again, observational products are shown to reproduce well the observed trends—with worst results for purely satellite-derived data—whereas reanalyses lead in general to unrealistic stronger than observed trends, with contradictory results (opposite signs for different reanalyses) in some cases. Similar inconsistencies are also found when analyzing trends of extreme precipitation indicators. Therefore, this study provides a warning concerning the use of reanalysis data as pseudo-observations in Ghana. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2014

Suggested Citation

  • R. Manzanas & L. Amekudzi & K. Preko & S. Herrera & J. Gutiérrez, 2014. "Precipitation variability and trends in Ghana: An intercomparison of observational and reanalysis products," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 124(4), pages 805-819, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:climat:v:124:y:2014:i:4:p:805-819
    DOI: 10.1007/s10584-014-1100-9
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    Cited by:

    1. Enoch Bessah & Emmanuel A. Boakye & Sampson K. Agodzo & Emmanuel Nyadzi & Isaac Larbi & Alfred Awotwi, 2021. "Increased seasonal rainfall in the twenty-first century over Ghana and its potential implications for agriculture productivity," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 23(8), pages 12342-12365, August.
    2. R. Manzanas & L. Fiwa & C. Vanya & H. Kanamaru & J. M. Gutiérrez, 2020. "Statistical downscaling or bias adjustment? A case study involving implausible climate change projections of precipitation in Malawi," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 162(3), pages 1437-1453, October.
    3. Manikandan Muthiah & Saravanan Sivarajan & Nagarajan Madasamy & Anandaraj Natarajan & Raviraj Ayyavoo, 2024. "Analyzing Rainfall Trends Using Statistical Methods across Vaippar Basin, Tamil Nadu, India: A Comprehensive Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(5), pages 1-29, February.
    4. Talardia Gbangou & Mouhamadou Bamba Sylla & Onemayin David Jimoh & Appollonia Aimiosino Okhimamhe, 2018. "Assessment of projected agro-climatic indices over Awun river basin, Nigeria for the late twenty-first century," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 151(3), pages 445-462, December.
    5. Ibrahima Diouf & Belen Rodriguez-Fonseca & Abdoulaye Deme & Cyril Caminade & Andrew P. Morse & Moustapha Cisse & Ibrahima Sy & Ibrahima Dia & Volker Ermert & Jacques-André Ndione & Amadou Thierno Gaye, 2017. "Comparison of Malaria Simulations Driven by Meteorological Observations and Reanalysis Products in Senegal," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(10), pages 1-20, September.
    6. Salamatu J. Tannor & Christian Borgemeister & Shalom D. Addo–Danso & Klaus Greve & Bernhard Tischbein, 2023. "Climate variability and mining sustainability: exploring operations’ perspectives on local effects and the willingness to adapt in Ghana," SN Business & Economics, Springer, vol. 3(8), pages 1-26, August.

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