Variation of rainfall features across the Plain of Reeds under the impacts of climate change¹

Variação das características pluviométricas na Planície de Reeds sob os impactos das mudanças climáticas

ABSTRACT

Globally, there is enough evidence to affirm that climate change is one of the main factors causing the changing trends in rainfall features (CTRFs). The aim of this study, therefore, is to assess the CTRFs across the rice cultivation regions (RCRs) of the Plain of Reeds in Vietnam. Vietnam is a prime example of the impacts of climate change (ICC) on agricultural activities. Daily rainfall data series from 16 observation stations during the period 1984-2015 were appraised for quality and then the CTRFs were detected by applying the Mann_Kendall test and Sen’s slope estimator. The quality of rainfall data at all observation stations is homogeneous with a significance level of 0.05. Over a year, the trends in rainfall features slightly increased at most obsrvation stations, except for Hong Ngu and Moc Hoa. Additionally, the trends in rainfall features slightly decreased in rainny season rainfall (RSR) at 10 out of 16 observation stations, while insignificant to significant increasesing in dry season rainfall (DSR) were detected at all observation stations.

Key words:
agriculture; Mann-Kendall test; Pettitt; rainfall decline; rice

HIGHLIGHTS:

The Plain of Reeds befallen a slight change tends in annual rainfall and rainy season rainfall.

An increasing trend in dry season rainfall is a living proof of the impact of climate change on rainfall factors.

An increase in the dry season rainfall is expected as a positive highlight for the agricultural sector.