Analysis of Kenya’s Atmospheric Moisture Sources and Sinks

Earth Interactions

article

Patrick W. Keys¹  Rekha Warrier¹  Ruud J. van der Ent²  Kathleen A. Galvin³  Randall B. Boone⁵ 

[1] School of Global Environmental Sustainability, Colorado State University;Department of Water Management, Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences, Delft University of Technology;Department of Anthropology and Geography, Colorado State University;The Africa Center, Colorado State University;Department of Ecosystem Science and Sustainability, Colorado State University;Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory, Colorado State University

关键词: Water budget/balance;    Water vapor;    Atmosphere–land interaction;    Biosphere–atmosphere interaction;    Climate services;    Ecosystem effects;    Regional effects;    Africa;    Water resources;    Evapotranspiration;    Precipitation;   

DOI  :  10.1175/EI-D-21-0016.1

学科分类：地球科学(综合)

来源: American Geophysical Union

【 摘 要 】

Achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is contingent on understanding the potential interactions among human and natural systems. In Kenya, the goal of conserving and expanding forest cover to achieve SDG 15 “Life on Land” may be related to other SDGs because it plays a role in regulating some aspects of Kenyan precipitation. We present a 40-yr analysis of the sources of precipitation in Kenya and the fate of the evaporation that arises from within Kenya. Using MERRA-2 climate reanalysis and the Water Accounting Model 2 layers, we examine the annual and seasonal changes in moisture sources and sinks. We find that most of Kenya’s precipitation originates as oceanic evaporation but that 10% of its precipitation originates as evaporation within Kenya. This internal recycling is concentrated in the mountainous and forested Kenyan highlands, with some locations recycling more than 15% of evaporation to Kenyan precipitation. We also find that 75% of Kenyan evaporation falls as precipitation elsewhere over land, including 10% in Kenya, 25% in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and around 5% falling in Tanzania and Uganda. Further, we find a positive relationship between increasing rates of moisture recycling and fractional forest cover within Kenya. By beginning to understand both the seasonal and biophysical interactions taking place, we may begin to understand the types of leverage points that exist for integrated atmospheric water cycle management. These findings have broader implications for disentangling environmental management and conservation and have relevance for large-scale discussions about sustainable development.

【 授权许可】

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