| Title | Kenya climate change briefing |
| Publication Type | Miscellaneous |
| Year of Publication | 2010 |
| Authors | Heath, T |
| Pagination | 4 p. : 2 tab.; 3 fig. |
| Date Published | 2010-01-01 |
| Publisher | Water and Sanitation for the Urban Poor, WSUP |
| Place Published | London, UK |
| Keywords | access to water, climate, drinking water, kenya, water, water management, water quantity, water resources, water resources development, water resources management, water shortage, water supply |
| Abstract | Kenya has a tropical climate moderated by diverse topography in the west. The central highlands are substantially cooler than the coast and temperatures vary little throughout the year – dropping 2 degrees Celsius in the coolest seasons (June to September). Rainfall is driven by the migration of the Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone and occurs in two distinct wet periods – the ‘short’ rains (October to December) and the ‘long’ rains (March to May). During these seasons the rainfall received is generally 50 - 200 mm per month, exceeding 300 mm in some locations. The onset, duration and intensity vary considerably each year. Kenya is very sensitive to fluctuations in sea-surface temperatures in the tropical Atlantic and Indian Oceans, which in turn are loosely coupled to the El Niño Southern Oscillation; in El Niño years the ‘short’ rains are longer and there is flooding whilst in the alternate La Niña years the ‘long’ rains are drier and there may be droughts. [author's abstract] |
| Notes | 12 ref. |
| Custom 1 | 210, 300 |
