Kenya: Climate

Temperature

Figure 2: Air temperature projections for Kenya for different GHG emissions scenarios.3

In response to increasing greenhouse gas (GHG) concentrations, air temperature over Kenya is projected to rise by 1.2 to 3.2 °C (very likely range) by 2080 relative to the year 1876, depending on the future GHG emissions scenario (Figure 2). Compared to pre-industrial levels, median climate model temperature increases over Kenya amount to approximately 1.4 °C in 2030 and 1.7 °C in both 2050 and 2080 under the low emissions scenario RCP2.6. Under the medium / high emissions scenario RCP6.0, median climate model temperature increases amount to 1.3 °C in 2030, 1.6 °C in 2050 and 2.2 °C in 2080.

Very hot days

Figure 3: Projections of the annual number of very hot days (daily maximum temperature above 35 °C) for Kenya for different GHG emissions scenarios.

In line with rising mean annual temperatures, the annual number of very hot days (days with daily maximum temperature above 35 °C) is projected to rise substantially and with high certainty, in particular over central and eastern Kenya (Figure 3). Under the medium / high emissions scenario RCP6.0, the multi-model median, averaged over the whole country, projects 25 more very hot days per year in 2030 than in 2000, 36 more in 2050 and 59 more in 2080. In some parts, especially in northern and eastern Kenya, this amounts to about 300 days per year by 2080.

Sea level rise

Figure 4: Projections for sea level rise off the coast of Kenya for different GHG emissions scenarios, relative to the year 2000.

In response to globally increasing temperatures, the sea level off the coast of Kenya is projected to rise (Figure 4). Until 2050, very similar sea levels are projected under both emissions scenarios. Under RCP6.0 and compared to year 2000 levels, the median climate model projects a sea level rise by 10 cm in 2030, 21 cm in 2050, and 40 cm in 2080. This threatens Kenya’s coastal communities and may cause saline intrusion in coastal waterways and groundwater reservoirs.

Precipitation

Figure 5: Annual mean precipitation projections for Kenya for different GHG emissions scenarios, relative to the year 2000.

Future projections of precipitation are less certain than projections of temperature change due to high natural year-to-year variability (Figure 5). Out of the three climate models underlying this analysis, one model projects no change to a slight decrease in mean annual precipitation over Kenya under RCP6.0, while the other two models project an increase under the same scenario. Under RCP2.6, median model projections indicate a slight increase towards the year 2030 but an overall decrease towards the end of the century. Under RCP6.0, the projected precipitation increase is likely to intensify after 2050, reaching 53 mm per year at the end of the century compared to year 2000. Higher concentration pathways suggest an overall wetter future for Kenya.

Heavy precipitation events

Figure 6: Projections of the number of days with heavy precipitation over Kenya for different GHG emissions scenarios, relative to the year 2000.

In response to global warming, heavy precipitation events are expected to become more intense in many parts of the world due to the increased water vapour holding capacity of a warmer atmosphere. At the same time, the number of days with heavy precipitation events is expected to increase. This tendency is also found in climate projections for Kenya (Figure 6), with climate models projecting an increase in the number of days with heavy precipitation, from 7 days per year in 2000 to 9 days per year in 2080 under RCP6.0. Under RCP2.6, the number of days with heavy precipitation remains unchanged.

Soil moisture

Figure 7: Soil moisture projections for Kenya for different GHG emissions scenarios, relative to the year 2000.

Soil moisture is an important indicator for drought conditions. In addition to soil parameters and management, it depends on both precipitation and evapotranspiration and therefore also on temperature, as higher temperatures translate into higher potential evapotranspiration. Annual mean top 1-m soil moisture projections for Kenya show almost no change under either RCP (Figure 7). However, looking at the different models underlying this analysis, there is considerable year-to-year variability and modelling uncertainty, which makes it difficult to identify a clear trend.

Potential evapotranspiration

Figure 8: Potential evapotranspiration projections for Kenya for different GHG emissions scenarios, relative to the year 2000.

Potential evapotranspiration is the amount of water that would be evaporated and transpired if sufficient water was available at and below the land surface. Since warmer air can hold more water vapour, it is expected that global warming will increase potential evapotranspiration in most regions of the world. In line with this expectation, hydrological projections for Kenya indicate a stronger and more continuous rise of potential evapotranspiration under RCP6.0 than under RCP2.6 (Figure 8). Under RCP6.0, potential evapotranspiration is projected to increase by 1.9 % in 2030, 3.0 % in 2050 and 4.5 % in 2080 compared to year 2000 levels.

3 Changes are expressed relative to year 1876 temperature levels using the multi-model median temperature change from 1876 to 2000 as a proxy for the observed historical warming over that time period.