Nethengwe, N. S.Chikoore, HSigauke, CSikhwari, Thendo2019-10-212019-10-212019-09-20Sikhwari, Thendo (2019) Variability and long-term trends of climate extremes over the Limpopo, South Africa, University of Venda, South Africa.<http://hdl.handle.net/11602/1485>.MENVSCDepartment of Geography and Geo-Information SciencesClimate change has a crucial impact on livelihoods, economy, and water resources due to the occurrence of weather and climate extreme events such as floods, droughts and heat waves. Extreme weather has been increasing worldwide, hence the need to understand their nature and trends. The aim of this study was to analyse the spatial variability and long-term trends of climate extremes over the Limpopo in South Africa from 1960 to 2014. Rainfall, temperature, and circulation fields were analysed to understand the extent, nature of climate extremes over the Limpopo. Extreme value theory (EVT) is a powerful method that was also employed in this study to provide statistical models for events rarely observed. R statistical software was used for clustering analysis which has a variety of functions for cluster analysis. Any station whose value is larger than 95th for any day of the season was considered as a widespread extreme event. The results show that the study area is highly vulnerable to extreme events due to its latitudinal location and low altitude. Anomalous cut-off lows, tropical cyclones and tropical storms are the major extreme producing systems affecting the Limpopo province whilst the Botswana High becomes dominant during heat waves and drought. Extreme weather events are common in Limpopo during summertime and often coincide with mature phases of the El Nino Southern Oscillation. In this study, after the suitable model for data was chosen, the interest was in deriving return levels of extreme maximum rainfall. The computed data for return levels predicted that the 5-year return period’s return level is approximately 223.89 mm, which suggests that rainfall of 223.89 mm or more per month should occur at that station or location on the average of once every five years.1 online resource (x, 104 leaves : color illustrations, color mapsenUniversity of VendaDroughtsUCTDExtreme eventsExtreme value theoryFloodsHeat waves577.220968257Climate variations -- South Africa -- Limpopo.Climate change -- South Africa -- Limpopo.Global temperature changes -- South Africa -- Limpopo.Climatology.DissertationSikhwari T. Variability and long-term trends of climate extremes over the Limpopo, South Africa. []. , 2019 [cited yyyy month dd]. Available from:Sikhwari, T. (2019). <i>Variability and long-term trends of climate extremes over the Limpopo, South Africa</i>. (). . Retrieved fromSikhwari, Thendo. <i>"Variability and long-term trends of climate extremes over the Limpopo, South Africa."</i> ., , 2019.TY - Dissertation AU - Sikhwari, Thendo AB - Climate change has a crucial impact on livelihoods, economy, and water resources due to the occurrence of weather and climate extreme events such as floods, droughts and heat waves. Extreme weather has been increasing worldwide, hence the need to understand their nature and trends. The aim of this study was to analyse the spatial variability and long-term trends of climate extremes over the Limpopo in South Africa from 1960 to 2014. Rainfall, temperature, and circulation fields were analysed to understand the extent, nature of climate extremes over the Limpopo. Extreme value theory (EVT) is a powerful method that was also employed in this study to provide statistical models for events rarely observed. R statistical software was used for clustering analysis which has a variety of functions for cluster analysis. Any station whose value is larger than 95th for any day of the season was considered as a widespread extreme event. The results show that the study area is highly vulnerable to extreme events due to its latitudinal location and low altitude. Anomalous cut-off lows, tropical cyclones and tropical storms are the major extreme producing systems affecting the Limpopo province whilst the Botswana High becomes dominant during heat waves and drought. Extreme weather events are common in Limpopo during summertime and often coincide with mature phases of the El Nino Southern Oscillation. In this study, after the suitable model for data was chosen, the interest was in deriving return levels of extreme maximum rainfall. The computed data for return levels predicted that the 5-year return period’s return level is approximately 223.89 mm, which suggests that rainfall of 223.89 mm or more per month should occur at that station or location on the average of once every five years. DA - 2019-09-20 DB - ResearchSpace DP - Univen KW - Droughts KW - Extreme events KW - Extreme value theory KW - Floods KW - Heat waves LK - https://univendspace.univen.ac.za PY - 2019 T1 - Variability and long-term trends of climate extremes over the Limpopo, South Africa TI - Variability and long-term trends of climate extremes over the Limpopo, South Africa UR - ER -