Data Library
Regional
Africa
Africa
Malaria
Meningitis
RED
RED
instructions
help@iri
Printable Page

Rainfall Estimate Differences

Optional
Overlay Maps
Boundaries
Coasts
Countries
States
Districts
Epidemiological
Mask


Time:
Click Image
for Info
for Zoom
x4
x2
x1
x1/2
x1/4


Map Description
The map above displays the difference between the most recent dekadal rainfall estimates and the short term (i.e., 6-year) average. Positive (negative) values indicate dekadal estimates that are above (below) the short term average. These differences should not be confused with conventional rainfall anomalies, which are based on the difference between observed data and a long-term (e.g., 30-year) average. The length of the referenced short-term average will increase over time as more data becomes available. Despite the limitations that the short-term average imposes, it may provide insight into changes in malaria risk in areas where precipitation anomalies are the principal cause of malaria epidemics by providing a recent historical reference.
Dataset Documentation
Rainfall Estimates
Data:  Dekadal precipitation on a 0.1 x 0.1 deg. lat/lon grid
Data Source:  Climate Prediction Center/Famine Early Warning System (CPC/FEWS RFE2.0)*

Rainfall Estimate Short-Term Average
Data: Dekadal precipitation on a 0.1 x 0.1 deg. lat/lon grid
Base Period: 1 Jan 2000 to 31 Dec 2005
Data Source: Climate Prediction Center/Famine Early Warning System (CPC/FEWS RFE2.0)*

Epidemiological Mask
Data:  Mask illustrating areas where malaria is considered to be epidemic. Areas where malaria transmission is considered absent or endemic are therefore excluded. This mask is based purely on climatic constraints to malaria transmission, and does not yet account for areas in the northern and southern margins of the continent where control has eliminated malaria risk.
Reference:  WHO: Final report on the 3rd meeting of the RBM Technical Resource Network on Epidemic Prevention and Control. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2002.

*More dekadal and daily data from FEWS is available from the Africa Data Dissemination Service.

Download Map Download Data
Figure as PDFFigure as JPEG Data for GIS
Colorscale as PDFColorscale as JPEG