Minimum and Maximum Temperature Trends in Congo-Brazzaville: 1932-2010

Abstract

Maximum and minimum temperatures time series of Congo-Brazzaville are analyzed for trend and discontinuities over the period 1932 to 2010. Temperatures series show an irregular increase. A total of 8 synoptic stations show positive trends in their annual mean maximum temperature series, and 7 of them are significant, with higher trends for urban stations. Annual mean minimum temperature showed 6 stations having positive trends. This increase is in relation with observations at regional scale. However, the differences are observed between large towns (Brazzaville and Pointe-Noire), and small or rural towns (Dolisie, Sibiti, Impfondo, Djambala). Trends in diurnal temperature range (DTR) are large positive trends in maximum temperature that are mainly observed in cities. The curve of DTR shows a decreasing trend which indicates the increasing of minimum temperatures. The effects of urbanization on temperature trends are investigated. Most stations regarded as urban stations are still useful for trend analysis; being situated on the suburban of the studied cities, they are therefore, not substantially influenced by the urban heat island.