Influences of variability of rainfall on flow regimes in central Ethiopia

This study investigates the link between the variability of annual runoff and the corresponding annual rainfall and flow regimes by using a headwater catchment of the Upper Awash River basin located in central Ethiopia. The flow series of the Awash River at Hombole station is extended from a longer time series of rainfall using a monthly water balance model, which enables the investigation of the long-term variation of flow regimes. The analysis of the reconstructed flow shows that there is an amplified variability of flow during the main rainy season (June-September). On the other hand, it is observed that the low flow regime (November-February) is less affected by variability of summer rainfall.