CHAPTER FIVE

THE CLIMATE OF ETHIOPIA AND THE HORN

5.1. Introduction
Ethiopia as a large country in the Horn of Africa, is characterized by a wide variety of altitudinal ranges and
diverse climatic conditions. In addition, because of its closeness to the equator and the Indian Ocean, the
country is subjected to large temporal and spatial variations in elements of weather and climate. The climate
of Ethiopia is therefore mainly controlled by the seasonal migration of the Intertropical Convergence Zone
(ITCZ) and associated atmospheric circulations as well as by the complex topography of the country.
Weather is the instantaneous or current state of the atmosphere composing temperature, atmospheric
pressure, humidity, wind speed and direction, cloudiness and precipitation. Climate refers the state of the
atmosphere over long time periods, decades and more. It is the composite of daily weather conditions
recorded for long periods of time.

5.2. Elements and Controls of Weather and Climate

Most changes in weather involve large scale horizontal motion of air which is called wind. Weather is expressed
by a combination of several elements. The climate of a region is ultimately determined by the radiation, its
distribution and temporal fluctuations. Temperature, Precipitation and humidity, Winds and air pressure are
elements of Weather and climate where as Latitude/angle of the Sun, Land and water distribution, Winds and
air pressure, Altitude and mountain barriers, and Ocean currents are controls of weather and climate.

5.2.1. Controls of Weather and Climate

A. Latitude: Latitude is the distance of a location from the equator. The sun shines directly on equator for
more hours during the year than anywhere else. As you move further away from the equa tor towards the
poles, less solar insolation is received during the year and the temperature become colder. Then, due to its
Latitudinal location Ethiopia and the Horn resulted in;

 High average temperatures, high daily and small annual ranges of temperature, and No significant
variation in length of day and night between summer and winter.
B. Inclination of the Earth's Axis: The earth’s rotation axis makes an angle of about 66 ½ ° with the plane
of its orbit around the sun, or about 23 ½ ° from the perpendicular to the ecliptic plane. This inclination
determines the location of the Tropics of Cancer, Capricorn and the Arctic and Antarctic Circles. As the earth
revolves around the sun, this inclination produces a change in the directness of the sun's rays; which in turn
causes the directness of the sun and differences in length of day and seasons.

c. Altitude
Altitude is the height of location above the sea level. Under normal conditions there is a general decrease in
temperature with increasing elevation. The average rate at which temperature changes per unit of altitudinal
change is known as lapse rate. The lapse rate is limited to the lower layer of the atmosphere named as
troposphere. The normal lapse rate is 6.5°C per kilometer rise in altitude.

5.3. Spatiotemporal Patterns and Distribution of Temperature and Rainfall in Ethiopia

5.3.1. Spatiotemporal Distribution of Temperature

The spatial distribution of temperature in Ethiopia is primarily determined by altitude and latitude. The location
of Ethiopia at close proximity to equator, a zone of maximum insolation, resulted for every part of the country
to experience overhead sun twice a year. However, in Ethiopia, as it is a highland country, tropical temperature
conditions have no full spatial coverage. They are limited to the lowlands in the peripheries.
Mean annual temperature varies from over 30 0C in the tropical lowlands to less than 100c at very high altitudes.
The Bale Mountains are among highlands where lowest mean annual temperatures are recorded. The highest
mean maximum temperature in the country is recorded in the Afar Depression. Moreover, lowlands of north-
western, western and south-eastern Ethiopian experiences mean maximum temperatures of more than 30 0C.
The temporal distribution of Ethiopian temperature is characterized by extremes. Ethiopia’s daily temperatures
are more extreme than its annual averages. Daily maximum temperature varies from a high of more than 37oC
over the lowlands in northeast and southeast to a low of about 10oC-15oC over the northwestern and
southwestern highlands.
The variation in the amount of solar radiation received daily is small throughout the year. As already explained,
temperature is high during the daytime in some places, and is considerably reduced at night resulting maximum
difference in the daily range. But in the case of monthly averages, variation is minimal and the annual range of
temperature is small. This holds true in both the highlands and lowlands. In Ethiopia and elsewhere in the
Horn, temperature shows seasonal variations. For example, months from March to June in Ethiopia have
records of highest temperatures. Conversely, low temperatures are recorded from November to February.
It is not easy to observe distinct variation in temperature between seasons as the sun is always high in the
tropics. However, there is a slight temperature increase in summer. Southern part of Ethiopia receives highest
records of temperature in autumn and spring following the relative shift of the sun; whereas in the northern
part of the country, summer season is characterized by higher temperature.

5.3.2. Spatiotemporal Distribution of Rainfall

Rainfall system in Ethiopia is characterized by complexities and thus, the rainfall system in Ethiopia is
characterized by spatial and temporal variability. Rainfall in Ethiopia is influenced by the position of Inter
Tropical Convergence Zone (ITC), pressure cells, and Trade Winds.

Based on rainfall distribution, both in space and time, four rainfall regions can be identified in Ethiopia and
the Horn. These are:
a. Summer rainfall region: This region comprises almost all parts of the country, except the southeastern
and northeastern lowlands. The region experiences most of its rain during summer (kiremt), while some
places also receive spring (Belg) rain. The region is divided in to dry and wet summer rainfall regions.
Hence, the wet corresponds to the area having rainfall of 1,000 mm or more. The High altitudes and the
windward side experience such rainfall amount.
b. All year-round rainfall region: It has many rainy days than any part of the country. It is a rainfall region
in the southwestern part of the country. The wetness of this region is particularly due to the prepotency
of moist air currents of equatorial Westerlies called the Guinea Monsoons. Both duration and amount of
rainfall decreases as we move from southwest to north and eastwards. Months in summer gain highest
rainfall whereas the winter months receive the reduced amount. The average rainfall in the region varies
from 1,400 to over 2,200 mm/year.
c. Autumn and spring rainfall regions: The region comprises areas receiving rain following the influence
of southeasterly winds. South eastern lowlands of Ethiopia receive rain during autumn and spring seasons
when both the north easterlies and equatorial westerlies are weak. The south-easterlies bring rainfall from
the Indian Ocean. About 60 percent of the rain is in autumn and 40 percent in spring. The average rainfall
varies from less than 500 to 1,000 mm.
d. Winter rainfall region: This rainfall region receives rain from the northeasterly winds. During the winter
season, the red sea escarpments and some parts of the Afar region receive their main rain.

5.4 Agro-ecological Zones of Ethiopia

As a result of the diversified altitude and climatic conditions, Ethiopia possesses divers agro climatic zones.
These zones have traditionally been defined in terms of temperature. This system divides the nation into five
major climatic zones namely Bereha, Kolla, Woina Dega, Dega and Wurch.

Agro Ecological Zones of Ethiopia

Altitude Mean Mean Length of Growing Area

Zones (Meter) annual (RF) Annual To Period (Days) Share in %
The Wurch (Cool) >3,200 900 - 2,200 Below 10 211 - 365 0.98
Dega(Cool to humid) 2,300 - 3,200 900 - 1,200 ≥11.5–17.5 121 - 210 9.94
Woina Dega (Cool sub
humid) 1,500 - 2,300 800 - 1,200 >17.5 – 20.0 91 - 120 26.75
Kola (Warm Semi-Arid 500 - 1,500 200 - 800 >20.0 – 27.5 46 - 90 52.94
Bereha (Hot Arid) < 500 Below 200 >27.5 0 - 45 9.39

A. The Wurch Zone

The Wurch-zone is an area having altitude higher than 3,200 meters above sea level and mean annual
temperature of less than 10oC. Mountains having typically fitting characteristics of this zone include mountain
systems of Ras Dashen, Guna, Megezez in North Shoa, Batu, Choke, and Abune Yoseph.

B. Dega Zone
This is a zone of highlands having relatively higher temperature and lower altitude compared to the wurch
Zones. In Ethiopia, the Dega-zone is long inhabited and has dense human settlement due to reliable rainfall
for agriculture and absence of vector-borne diseases such as malaria.

C. Weyna Dega Zone

This zone has warmer temperature and moderate rainfall. It lies between 1500-2,300 meters above sea level.
It is the second largest zone covering more than 26% of the landmass of Ethiopia. The temperature and rainfall
of this category is highly suitable for majority of crops grown in Ethiopia. Hence, the zone includes most of
the agricultural land. The Weyna Dega zone has also two growing seasons.

D. Kolla Zone
In Ethiopia, the geographic peripheries in south, southeast, west and northeastern part are mainly in this
category. Kolla is the climate of the hot lowlands with an altitudinal range of 500 to 1500 masl. Average annual
temperature ranges between 20oC and 30oC. Although mean annual rainfall is erratic, it can be as high as
1500 mm in the wet western lowlands of Gambella. Rainfall is highly variable from year to year.
E. Bereha Zone
Bereha is the hot arid climate of the desert lowlands. The Bereha agro-climatic zone is largely confined to
lowland areas with altitude of lower than 500 meters. Around Danakil depression, the elevation goes below
the sea level. Its average annual rainfall is less than 200 mm, and average annual temperature is over 27.5 oC.
Strong wind, high temperature, low relative humidity, and little cloud cover usually characterize Bereha.
Evapotranspiration is always in excess of rainfall. Djibouti, majority of Somalia, and coastal areas of Eritrea are
categorized under Kolla and Bereha zones.
5.5. Climate Change/Global Warming: Causes, Consequences and Response Mechanisms

Climate change refers to a change in the state of the climate in the mean and/or the variability of its properties
and that persists for an extended period, typically decades or longer. It refers to any change in climate over
time, due to either natural variability or human activities.

5.5.1. Current Trends of Climate in Ethiopia

Besides spatial and temporal variations in different parts of the country, Ethiopian climate experiences
extremes such as drought, flood etc. Ethiopia ranked 5th out of 184 countries in terms of its risk of drought.
In the country, 12 extreme drought events were recorded between 1900 and 2010. Among the 12, seven of
the drought events occurred since 1980. The majority of these resulted in famines. The severe drought of
2015-2016 was exacerbated by the strongest El Nino that caused successive harvest failures and widespread
livestock deaths in some regions.
In Ethiopia, Mean annual temperature has shown 0.2°C to 0.28°C rise per decade over the last 40-50 years.
A rise in average temperature of about 1.3°C has been observed between 1960 and 2006. The rise has spatial
and temporal variation. Higher rise was noted in northeast and southeast part of the country. Temporally,
notable variability is higher in July-September. The number of ‘hot days’ and ‘hot nights’ has also shown
increment. Consequently, the country’s minimum temperature has increased with 0.37°C to 0.4°C per decade.
Precipitation has remained fairly stable over the last 50 years when averaged over the country. However,
these averages do not reflect local conditions which are extremely divergent and the natural variability in
rainfall in the country makes it difficult to detect long-term trends. In some regions, total average rainfall is
showing decline. For instance, parts of southern, southwestern and south-eastern regions receiving spring
and summer rainfall have shown decline by 15-20%between 1975 and 2010.

Changes in temperature and rainfall increase the frequency and severity of extreme events. Major floods have
been a common occurrence, leading to loss of life and property in numerous parts of the country. Warming
has exacerbated droughts, and desertification in the lowlands of the country is expanding.

5.5.2. Causes of Climate Change

The causes of climate change are generally categorized as anthropogenic/manmade and natural causes.
Natural Causes are: Earth orbital changes, Energy Budget, and Volcanic eruptions.
Anthropogenic Causes: The industrial activities, decomposition of wastes in landfills, agriculture, ruminant
digestion and manure management, synthetic compounds manufacturing, clearing of land for agriculture, and
human activities have increased concentrations of greenhouse gases.

5.5.3. Consequences of Climate Change

Climate change has caused on human health, water resource agriculture and ecosystem.
5.5.4. Climate Response Mechanisms
Climate change is one of the most complex issues facing us today. So even if we stopped emitting all greenhouse
gases today, global warming and climate change will continue as it has natural source of emission. Hence, there
has to be response mechanism to reduce the impact of extreme events. There are three major response
mechanisms to climate change namely mitigation (practice energy efficiency, Increase the use of renewable
energy such as solar, Efficient means of transport implementation: electric public transport, bicycle, shared
car), adaptation (landscape restoration and reforestation, building flood defenses, flexible and diverse
cultivation and etc) and resilience ().