TITLE:
Climate Change and Variability in Southeast Zimbabwe: Scenarios and Societal Opportunities
AUTHORS:
David Chikodzi, Talent Murwendo, Farai Malvern Simba
KEYWORDS:
Opportunities; Climate Change; Climate Variability; Adaptation; Rainfall; Temperature; Southeast Zimbabwe and Masvingo Region
JOURNAL NAME:
American Journal of Climate Change,
Vol.2 No.3A,
September
26,
2013
ABSTRACT: A lot of researches have been done on the negative impacts and challenges
caused by extreme weather conditions due to climate change and variability. Not
many researches have been focused on the positive side in form of opportunities presented
due to climate change. The study aimed to show the climate change scenarios and
explore possible opportunities that could be derived from such scenarios in the
southeastern region of Zimbabwe. The research used climate data records from three
Zimbabwe Meteorological Services Department run weather stations in the region.
The time series data were analyzed to show trends of rainfall and temperature over time. A questionnaire
survey was also carried out to enquire from the farmers if they perceived climate
change to have any opportunities. The rainfall trend analysis showed that rainfall
amounts have declined at two of the three stations used. Rainfall total was also shown
to be variable from year to year at all the stations. Ambient temperatures at all
the stations were shown to have increased for both winter and summer. Opportunities
that could be derived from climate change in the region were identified as the hydrological,
agricultural and industrial. The research concludes that taking advantages of opportunities
offered by climate change and variability provides the quickest way of embracing
climate change adaptation.