Spatiotemporal Variability and Characterization of Seasonal and Annual Rainfall in Gojjam, Ethiopia

Identifying the spatiotemporal variability and characterization of rainfall in a given area is essential for effective water resource management, agricultural planning, and disaster preparedness. This study used ENACTS data to assess the variability of rainfall and characterize seasonal rainfall in Gojjam from 1991-2020. The results indicated that Gojjam had received mostly on Bega, Belg, Kiremt, and annually 120-200 mm, 200-450mm, 1000-1300 mm, and 1300-1700 mm rainfall respectively. The mean annual rainfall is 1395.1 mm. The results show that the main rainy seasonal rainfall starts on average from 24 May to 3 June and ceases averagely around 13-27 September. The mean length of the growing season was 120 days. It also indicated that high rainfall variability was observed over the study area. The result stated that most parts of the study area are under strong precipitation concentration during all seasons. Characterization and identified variability of seasonal rainfall were important especially for rain-fed agriculture and hydrological advisory at the zone level to support the community. These findings highlight the need for adaptation strategies to mitigate the potential impacts of changing rainfall patterns on agriculture and water resources in Gojjam.