Mahale Mountains Wildlife Research Centre - Climatological Data

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

General Information

Temperature

Rainfall

Works Cited

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General

Source#1

Kasoje alt = 750-1400
Bilenge alt = 750-1150

Temperature

Source #6

Monthly mean daily maximum temperature (°C) at Kansyana (1973-
1988); Myako (1977-1984); 
Bilenge (1977-84)

Year		Kansyana	Myako		Bilenge

1973-74		28.8(3)
1974-75		
1975-76		
1976-77		28.1(10)	34.4(1)
1977-78		29.3		31.6		31.4(10)
1978-79		29.0		30.7(10)	29.0(9)
1979-80		28.3(11)	30.5(10)	29.1(7)
1980-81		27.2		29.1(11)	28.6(7)
1981-82		28.5		30.3(8)		28.9(8)
1982-83		29.0		29.8		27.3(1)
1983-84		29.2		29.7		30.1(2)
1984				29.0(3)		28.7(3)
1984-85		29.3		
1985-86		29.8(8)
1986-87		29.7
1987-88		30.9(11)
1988		28.8(3)
_____________________________________________________________________
_______________________
Number in parenthesis indicates number of months mean was based on when 
number of months was 
less than 12.




Monthly mean daily minimum temperature (°C) at Kansyana (1973-
1988); Myako (1977-1984); 
Bilenge (1977-84)

Year		Kansyana	Myako		Bilenge

1973-74		18.1(3)
1974-75		
1975-76		
1976-77		18.0(10)	22.0(1)
1977-78		18.5		20.8		19.7(10)
1978-79		18.0		20.61(10)	19.4
1979-80		18.7		20.3(10)	19.7(10)
1980-81		18.3		20.8(6)		19.0
1981-82		18.4		20.9(8)		20.1(3)
1982-83		18.8		21.3		20.5(1)
1983-84		17.9		20.7		18.7(2)
1984				21.1(3)		19.8(3)
1984-85		18.0		
1985-86		17.7(8)
1986-87		18.6
1987-88		18.5(11)
1988		18.8(3)
_____________________________________________________________________
_______________________
Number in parenthesis indicates number of months mean was based on when 
number of months was 
less than 12.

The following table is reproduced from Source #3 , 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 / 912.421.9 / 26.318.2 / 19.2
Highest Max.
°C		DateLowest Min.
°C		DateMean Max
°C		Mean Min.
°C		Mean Temp.
°C		Mean Range
°C		Mean Rel. Humidty
0830 / 1430
35.7Oct., 194911.7July, 193527.819.223.515.577% / 66%

No. of Years for Averages
Temp.HumidityPressure
212121
Source #1

Kasoje, 1977-82 = 28.4 & 18.4 - Kansyana
Myako = 30.5 & 19.0
Bilenge, 1978-82 = 29.9 & 19.5

Source#4.

REF. ONLY 

p.172 Figure 3: Mean maximum and minimum temperatures at Kasoge.

Source #2

Hourly condition of the temperature and humidity (Dec. 26, 1963-Feb. 1, 
1964) for
the Kasakati Basin.

Hour	No. Times	      Temperature 	Avg. Humidity
	Measured	Avg. 	Max.	Min.	

7-8	    7		20.3	24.9	17.1	    91.2
8-9	    8		20.1	21.6	18.6	    92.2	
9-10	   17		22.5	24.4	20.3	    85.0
10-11	    2		22.0	23.0	21.0	    84.0
11-12	    1		23.1	23.1	23.1	    88.0
12-13	    0		  -	  -	  -	      -
13-14	    1		27.3	27.3	27.3	    62.8
14-15	   11		25.4	30.4	17.6	    71.5
15-16	    3		23.9	25.9	22.8	    80.0
16-17	    6		24.7	28.4	22.1	    79.4
17-18	    5		26.0	28.8	24.3	    72.2	
18-19	    4		24.0	26.3	19.9	    81.0
19-20	    3		22.9	24.5	21.1	    80.0
20-21	    0		  -	  -	  -	      -	
21-22	    9		20.5	22.2	19.0	    91.3
22-23	    8		20.6	21.8	18.1	    90.1	
23-24	    4		20.8	21.7	20.2	    91.0
24-1	   14		19.9	21.6	17.5	    91.0
1-2	    1		19.3	19.3	19.3	    88.0

Maximum and Minimum Temperature

Month	   Monthly Avg.Max.   Monthly Avg. Min.

Feb.		28.6		  17.0
March		28.9		  16.9
Apr.		26.8		  17.2
Feb-Apr		28.2		  17.1

Source #5

May 1964 to September 1965

Highest temp. = 33.8
Lowest = 7.8
Average = 22.07

Rainy Season = 16.5 to 26
Dry Season = <10 to 30

Rainfall

Source #6

Total Yearly Rainfall at Kansyana Camp (1973-88), Myako Camp (1976-84); 
and Bilenge (1978-1982).

Year		Kansyana	Myako		Bilenge

1973-74		1218.9(5)					
1974-75		117.5(5)
1975-76		1333.0		970.1
1976-77		2124.7		1766.1
1977-78		1674.2		1625.9		788.1(10)
1978-79		2337.9		2152.8		1643.1
1979-80		1749.6		1578.9		1354.8
1980-81		1796.3		1433.7(11)	1259.2
1981-82		1519.2		1253.6(11)	592.9(11)
1982-83		2286.5		1821.4		520.2(3)
1983-84		1689.5		1698.8		
1984				577.8(3)		
1984-85		2043.3		
1985-86		1892.1		17.7(8)
1986-87		2252.0
1987-88		1458.4
1988		658.8(3)

Mean(all years	1835.5		1774.0		1419.0
with 12 months)
_____________________________________________________________________
_______________________
Number in parenthesis indicates number of months total was based on when 
number of months was 
less than 12.

Source #1

1976 to 1982 = between 1789& 2063mm per year at Kansyana (x=1870)
1434 to 1993mm (x=1653mm) at Myako both in K group's range

B Group = 3 years data, record 1333 to 1425mm (x=1400mm)

Source #7
Total Yearly Rainfall at Kasoje between 1976 and 1978 (in mm)

Year	Myako	   Kansyana	Bilenge (1978 only)

1976	1690.2	   (1788.9)
1977	1690.9	   2007.5
1978	1992.7	   (1903.5)	1332.65

Figures in parentheses are incomplete data.
Rainfall (mm) recorded at Kasoje (Mahale NP), Station No. 962900 (Source: Directorate of Meteorology, Tanzania)
Unfortunately the official data for Mahale are pretty spotty ("m" - missing)
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec TOT
1989 69.3 168.7 379.9 289.2 85.4 0 0 12.1 m m m m 1004.6
1990 m m m m m m m m 44.4 170.4 m m 214.8
1991 m m m m m m m m m m m 184.8 184.8
1992 378.1 128.1 132.3 222.8 78.9 0 0 0 14.2 148 100.3 102.2 1304.9
1993 232.4 166.2 224.2 162.8 115.7 0 0 1.5 4.7 42.9 128.9 216 1295.3
1994 221.3 222.3 m m m m m m m m m m 443.6
1995 m m m m m m m m m m m m 0
1996 243.2 43.3 197.6 209.8 203.8 7.6 0 0 5.1 264.5 439.7 426.3 2040.9
1997 m m m m m m m m m m m m 0
Source #5
May 1964 to September 1965
Mean Annual Rainfall 
Kigoma = 978.7mm 
Arusha = 1031.2

Source #3

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	
Kigoma	777.2		954.3		19
Mpanda	1097.3		942.6		19

Station	 1950	 1951	 1952	 1953	 1954	 1955
	 1956
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

Works Cited

  1. Collins, D. A. & McGrew, W. C. (1988). Habitats of three groups of chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) in western Tanzania compared. J. Hum. Evol. 17: 553-574
  2. Izawa, K. & Itani, J. (1966). Chimpanzees in Kasakati Basin, Tanganyika. (I) Ecological stuy in the rainy season 1963-1964. Kyoto Univ. African Studies, 1:73-156.
  3. Moffet, J.P. 1958. Handbook of Tanganyika. 2nd ed. Government of Tanganyika. Govt. Printer, Dar es Salaam.
  4. Nishida, T. (1968). The social group of wild chimpanzees in the Mahali Mountains. Primates, 9:167-224.
  5. Suzuki, A. (1969). An ecological study of chimpanzees in a savanna woodland. Primates, 10:103-148.
  6. Takasaki, et.al.(1990). Summary of meteorological data at Mahale Research Camps, 1973-1988. In Nishida, T. (ed), The Chimpanzees of the Mahale Mountains: Sexual and Life History Strategies (appendix). Tokyo: University of Tokyo Press.
  7. Uehara, S. (1982). Seasonal changes in the techniques employed by wild chimpanzees in the Mahale Mountains, Tanzania, to feed on termites (Pseudocanthotermes spiniger).
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