Analysis of temperature and rainfall trends in Beni City, Democratic Republic of Congo

Understanding local-scale climate change is vital to developing adaptive strategies in the face of the century-old river of global warming posing a threat to humanity. This study focuses on assessing temperature and rainfall trends in Beni City, using monthly and yearly (1990-2020) weather station data. Climate variability was analysed using the standardised variable index, and rainfall concentration patterns were highlighted using the precipitation concentration index (PCI). The climate trends were analysed by using the Mann-Kendall test and Sen's slope estimator. The findings indicated that the T-min is 18.82 +/- 0.62 degrees C, and Tmax is 28.22 +/- 0.75 degrees C, resulting in a mean temperature of 23.52 +/- 0.57 degrees C. The annual and seasonal temperature trend analysis indicated that a significant warming trend was observed in both T-min and T-max. Beni City's precipitation trends also showed a mean annual rainfall of 1988.38 +/- 416.59 mm, with significant year-to-year variations. Annual rainfall analysis exhibited a slight upward trend; meanwhile, the seasonal trend analysis revealed an increase in rainfall during Mar-Apr-May (MAM) and Aug-Sep-Oct-Nov (ASON) seasons with roughly no discernible trend during Dec-Jan-Feb (DJF), and Jun-Jul (JJ) seasons. Overall, annual and seasonal analyses of specific temperature and rainfall patterns have shown pronounced warming and increased rainfall in the study area.Research highlightsThe study reveals significant trends in temperature and rainfall in Beni city, Democratic Republic of Congo, over a 31-year period (1990-2020).Both minimum and maximum temperatures show significant warming trends, with the most recent decade witnessing substantial increases in maximum temperatures.Rainfall patterns exhibit variations, with a slight upward trend in annual rainfall, although the 1990s experienced a notable decrease in precipitation.Monthly analyses highlight specific temperature and rainfall patterns with some months experiencing pronounced warming and increased rainfall.