Assessing Climate Variability in Wajir County Using Remote Sensing

Abstract

This study is aimed at assessing climate variability on drought in Wajir County using Remote Sensing techniques. Climate variation is one of the factors being assessed with regards to how they affect the drought status of the county. The county faces challenges, especially when it comes to precipitation and temperatures that later affect the drought levels in the county. The main objective of the study is to assess climate variables on drought in the county. Specifically, the study seeks to: assess and analyse the trends of different climate variables; understand how climate change affects the land use land cover and its impact on the drought index of the county. To monitor drought in the study area three main indices are mapped including: vegetation index, this involves the greenness or the crop yield capability of different parts of the County, climate indices where climatic variables are used, these are: rainfall, temperature and evapotranspiration. Evapotranspiration values are used to generate the soil moisture content. Soil moisture detects the wetness or dryness of the ground, and hydrological index where flow accumulation was detected. Correlation Analysis is done between the three indices resulting in maps that represent drought severity indices. Variation of the different climate variables resulted to different interpretations of drought indices. According to the selected indices done in the study, i.e., climatic indices, vegetation indices and hydrological indices, Wajir County lies between Slightly wet and extreme drought of the Palmers Drought Severity Indices. These indices relate to the condition of drought in Wajir County. Currently, the horn of Africa has been identified to be one of the areas that is severely drought stricken hence the need for the study. The study seeks to identify the condition of drought in the study area, and this was achieved using the use of GIS and Remote Sensing Techniques.