Gombe NP - Climatological Data

This page contains general information regarding some climatological aspects of Gombe. It provides a listing of general information, temperature and rainfall. The source reference numbers correspond to the numbers in the Works Cited list located at the bottom of this page. Figures within publications that contain data but could not be reproduced on this page, are given as well. They are marked by the term: REF. ONLY.

The discrepancies among temperature and rainfall data indicate that there is a strong need to organize and compare the data for comparative studies.

General Information

Temperature

Rainfall

Works Cited

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General Information

Area

32km², if terrain flattened, would be double (3)
Topographic surface area 36-40km2 (7)

Altitude

min = 750m; max = 1450m (2)
683m-1500m (4)

Other

Lake lies at an atltitude of 772 m above sea level (1)
Rift escarpment rises to around 1500m(1)
Lake is 675 km long and 70km wide and 775 m above sea level (3)

Temperature

Item	Temperature	Source Ref.#
Average Max. Wet Season Average Max. Dry Season Mean Min.	25 to 26.5°C 27 to 30° 18.5 to 21°C	3
Diurnal Temp. Range Night Midday Mean Diurnal Range	28°C 16.7°C;15°C 36.7°C;37° C 4.5°C	7 6;7 6;7 8
Temperature	28°C and 19°C 30°C and 19°C	2 10
Mean Daily Max. Mean Daily Min. Highest Max. Lowest Min.	28°C 19°C 33°C 16°C	4

Humidity

Humidity	Season
60-100% 30-70%	Wet Season Dry Season	1
74% @1300hrs. 92%@0700hrs	Jan. 1973	10
44%@0700 hrs 78%@0700hrs	July 1973	10

The following table is reproduced from Moffett, J.P. 1958. Handbook of Tanganyika. 2nd. ed. Page 12, Table of Climatological Statistics for Stations in Tanganyika. The following table is for the Kigoma District.

Mean Atmo. Pressure 0830 MBS / 1430 MBS	Mean Dry Bulb 0830°C / 1430°C	Mean Dew Point 0830°C / 1430°C
914.6 / 912.4	21.9 / 26.3	18.2 / 19.2

Highest Max. °C	Date	Lowest Min. °C	Date	Mean Max °C	Mean Min. °C	Mean Temp. °C	Mean Range °C	Mean Rel. Humidty 0830 / 1430
35.7	Oct., 1949	11.7	July, 1935	27.8	19.2	23.5	15.5	77% / 66%

No. of Years for Averages
Temp.	Humidity	Pressure
21	21	21

Rainfall Data

J.J. Moore's 'Final' Figures

With helpful input from Tony Collins, Bill McGrew, and Janette Wallis, I have been trying to figure out why rainfall increases and its variance decreases between 1976-1982. I am convinced that it is at least partially artifactual but there is no single, obvious source of the problem. Until there is a satisfactory explanation, (a) this is some sort of concensus of the various original data sources, and (b) 1976-1982 data are highly suspect.

I plan to post monthly totals as soon as possible; if you particularly want such data, please let me know -- this is an easy one to let slide and your interest could move completion up by years...

Yearly Totals and Averages for 1968 to 1988 in mm.

Station                Year        Monthly Avg.         Yearly Totals
Gombe	                68           142.47                1709.6 
Gombe	                69           120.66                1447.9
Kasakela (published)    70           121.61                1459.3
Kasakela Res Centre     71           102.71                1232.5
Kasakela Res Centre     72           108.57                1302.8
Kasakela Res Centre     73           133.34                1600.1
Kasakela Res Centre     74           137.68                1652.1
Kasakela Res Centre     75           128.90                1546.8
Kasakela Res Centre     76           195.43                2345.1
Kasakela Res Centre     77           217.73                2612.8
Kasakela Res Centre     78           217.03                2604.4
Kasakela Res Centre     79           222.30                2667.6
Kasakela Res Centre     80           187.88                2254.6
Kasakela Res Centre     81           221.03                2652.3
Kasakela Res Centre     82           221.82                2661.8
Kasakela Res Centre     83            76.91                 922.9
Kasakela Res Centre     84            97.18                1166.1
Kasakela Res Centre     85           138.22                1658.6
Kasakela Res Centre     86           118.18                1418.1
Kasakela Res Centre     87           123.40                1480.8
Kasakela Res Centre     88           108.44                 867.5
TOTALS                               152.66               1795.06

**Rainfall (mm) recorded at Kasakela (Station 942909) (Source #3: Directorate of Meteorology, Tanzania)**
NOTE: the following have not yet been "cross-examined" independently; they are the official figures available in Dar.
	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	TOT
1989	109.2	211.6	212	212	48.7	2.6	34.6	18.2	5.2	62.5	190.2	208	1314.8
1990	76.1	278	319.1	258.1	60	0	0	0	2.9	43	71.3	205.7	1314.2
1991	177.5	129.3	176.1	234.3	219.2	2.6	2.4	27.9	9.8	151	213.9	164.5	1508.5
1992	107.7	111.9	72.6	234.4	m	16.4	0	0	12. 7	88.5	239.2	373.1	1256.5
1993	187.3	251	257.1	33.8	128.2	10.8	0	0	0	4.6	114.8	126.5	1114.1
1994	m	103.8	135.9	125.1	25.1	0	0	0	0	124	m	229.4	743.3
1995	m	22.8	181.5	139.6	32.1	43.3	0	0	0	140.3	110.8	88.7	759.1
1996	168.9	110.2	263.9	120.7	2.1	1.5	0	0	15 .5	25.2	146	m	854
1997	113.6	163.3	95.2	249.7	98.1	9	0	0	0	145.2	217.2	225.1	1316.4

Other Sources' Data

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Source #1:

Rainfall measured over 3 seasons in Kakombe valley (775m above sea level)
	
1968 = 	1710
1696 = 	1450
1970 = 	1480
Average in mm =	1546.67
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Source#2:

1968 - 1974 =1321-1710mm
Average = 1495mm
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REF. ONLY

Source#3, p.48:

Figure 3.3: Total mean rainfall per month from 1973-1975, and in 1978, very 
high rainfall.
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Source#4:

Mean Annual Rainfall (mm) =1495
Range of mean annual rainfall (mm)= 1321-1710
Wet:dry months = 8:4
Totally dry months = 3
Mean days of rain/year = 151.5
Range of mean days of rain/year =149-154
Criterion for rainy day = 0.1mm

Yearly Totals Rainfall in mm
1973   1974    Mean
 1513   1321    1417

Monthly Totals Rainfall in mm
Month    1973	1974    Mean
JAN.	  155	 193	 174
FEB	   73	 107	  90
MAR	  195	 172	 183
APR	  172	 251	 212
MAY	  188	 127	 157
JUN	    3	  31	  17
JUL	    0	   0	   0
AUG	    0	   0	   0
SEP	    0	   0	   0
OCT	   62	  79	  71
NOV	  393	 152	 272
DEC	  272	 209	 241
Total    1513	1321	1417

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Source#5:

For Kigoma District
Lat & Long = 4o53'S, 29o38'E
Alt (M) = 884.8
Avg. Total Rainfall (mm) = 951.5
Max. Fall in 24 hr (mm) = 96.8 / Date= Jan. 1950
Mean No. days rain = 118
Mean Cloud Amt (tenths)= @0830: 6.9 / @1430:5.8

Station	Altitiude (m)	Average (mm)	No. Years	
Kasulu	1380.7		1142.7		33
Kigoma	777.2		954.3		19
Mpanda	1097.3		942.6		19

Station	1950	1951	1952	1953	1954	1955
	1956
Kasulu	1211.3	1522.0	1491.2	1326.6	1187.5	1832.6
	1084.8
Kigoma	1125.0	 849.1	 940.1	1026.9	 850.9	1089.2
	 863.6
Mpanda	 714.0	1459.0	 966.5	 803.4	 725.2	 946.2
	 940.8

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Source#6:

Kigoma Region
Mean Annual Rainfall= 762-1270 mm
	
Research Station 3/68-3/69 =1643 mm
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Source#7:

Mean annual rainfall = 750-1250mm
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Source#8:

Mean annual rainfall = 1540mm

P.109: Figure 11.  Annual trends in precipitation and temperature recorded 
over a 3-year period
(1968-70) at the Kakombe Valley research station.
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REF> ONLY

Source#9:

p. 442:Figure 3.  Average monthly totals for rainfall, from 1985-1989.
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Source#10:

Data collected by field assistants from a rain-gauge in lower Kakombe.

Month		1972		1973		Mean
Jan.		?		142		142
Feb		190		129		159.5
Mar		199		189		194
Apr		166		171		168.5
May		81		188		134.5
Jun		0		3		1.5
Jul		0		0		0
Aug		0		0		0
Sep		2		0		1
Oct		85		61		73
Nov		128		392		260
Dec		219		274		246.5
Total		1070		1407		1238.5

Works Cited

Data sources for this page correspond to the following list:

Clutton-Brock, T.H. & Gillett, J.B. 1979. A survey of forest composition in the Gombe National Park, Tanzania. Afr. J. Ecol. 17:131-158.
Collins, D.A. and McGrew, W.C. 1988. Habitats of three groups of chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) in western Tanzania compared. J. Hum. Evol. 17: 553-574.
Goodall, J. 1986. The Chimpanzees of Gombe: Patterns of Behavior. Harvard University Press, Cambridge.
McGrew, W.C., Baldwin, P.J. and Tutin, C.E.G. 1981. Chimpanzees in a hot, dry and open habitat: Mt. Assirik, Senegal, West Africa. J. Hum. Evol. 10:227- 244.
Moffet, J.P. 1958. Handbook of Tanganyika. 2nd ed. Government of Tanganyika. Govt. Printer, Dar es Salaam.
Teleki, G. 1973. The Predatory Behavior of Wild Chimpanzees. Bucknell University Press, Lewisburg.
Teleki, G. 1976. Demographic observations (1963-1973) on the Chimpanzees of Gombe National Park, Tanzania. J. Hum. Evol. 5:559-98.
Teleki, Geza. 1977. Spatial and Temporal Dimensions of Routine Activities Performed by Chimpanzees in Gombe National Park, Tanzania: An Ethological Study of Adaptive Strategy. Pennsylvania St. University, Ph.D. Thesis.
Wallis, J. 1995. Seasonal influence on reproduction in chimpanzees of Gombe National Park. Int. J. Primatol. 16(3): 435-451.
Wrangham, R.W. 1975. The Behavioral Ecology of Chimpanzees in Gombe National Park, Tanzania. University of Cambridge, Ph.D. Thesis.