The characteristics of rainfall in Ethiopia and its relationship to El-Nino Southern Oscillation

Abstract

Ethiopia is one of the countries on the eastern side of Africa which has high spatial and temporal variability of rainfall. The trade winds are the major source of moisture in this region. The chatacteristics of the trade winds are controlled by the location, intensity and orientation of the majorbquasi-permanent anticyclones of Africa together with other general circulation parameters such as sea surface temperatures, jet streams, easterly waves and extratropical weather systems. The study showed that years of strong El-Nino are characterized by severe droughts over Ethiopia