Changing rainfall patterns since the 1970s in Rift Valley, Kenya
The rainfall patterns during the peak growing season of March, April and May have been changing over the past few decades in the province of Rift Valley, Kenya. Since the 1970s, rainfall during this season has increased in quantity but decreased in the number of days rained. This has resulted in an increase of rain intensity. These changing rainfall patterns in this part of Kenya are a part of climate change resulting from increasing annual temperatures and warming sea surface temperatures in the southwest Indian Ocean. The increase in rain intensity has caused soil erosion and infertile land. The decrease in rain days resulted in a shorter growing season. These factors affect the socioeconomic lives of the people in Rift Valley as their income and food is largely dependent on agriculture and subsistence farming. Agricultural adaptations are being adopted by farmers living in Rift Valley to combat the decrease in crop yield due to changing rainfall patterns. Changing patterns of rainfall during peak season in Rift Valley The rainfall patterns in Rift Valley, Kenya, have changed over the past few decades in quantity, number of days rained, and intensity. The rainfall patterns in Rift Valley are bimodal with their primary