Evaporation values in East Africa

Abstract

Potential evaporation (E p) and actual evapotranspiration (E A) values for 84 East African stations were estimated and mapped using Morton [12, 13, 14] model. The data used in the study were long term averages up to and including 1974. TheE p andE A distributions for the months of January, April, and July and October; and annual are discussed. HighE p values exist in the semi-arid/arid areas of northern and northeastern Kenya and central Tanzania. LowE p values dominate on the highland areas. HighE A values are observed over the East African rainfall favoured and thickly vegetated areas whereas the lowestE A values are predominantly observed during all months in semi-arid/arid areas. BothE p andE p values show a good agreement with the north/south movement of the rain belts across East Africa.