Monthly Rainfall and NDVI, April, 2011

April 2011: Dekadal Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI)

Map 7: 2nd Dekad (11-20) Map 8: 3rd Dekad (21-30)Map 6: 1st Dekad (1-10)Bari

April 2011: Dekadal Rainfall Estimates (RFE)

Map 4: 2nd Dekad (11-20) Map 5: 3rd Dekad (21-30)Map 3: 1st Dekad (1-10)

Map 2: April 2011: Monthly Rainfall Estimates (mm)

Food Security and Nutrition Analysis Unit - Somalia

Observed rainfall data from most stations in Somalia during the month of April indicate that the Gu rains (April-June) started to pick up, though with some delays. Light to moderate rainfall was reported in Northwest, Central and South. The highest amount of rainfall of 65mm was recorded in Marere (Middle Juba), although it was still below the long-term mean for April (SWALIM rain gauge readings) . However, Bardera received an unusually high amount of precipitation of 49.5mm compared to its Long Term Mean. According to FSNAU field reports, commencement of Gu rains is observed in most parts of the country.

Satellite derived Rainfall Estimates (RFE) is also confirming that the Gu season rainfall is starting to build up, especially in southern and central parts of the country. Satellite-derived Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (Map 6-8) shows that vegetation is starting to improve, especially in Bay, Juba and Shabelle regions. It should also be noted that the index is clearly below average for most of southern and central Somalia, which is a result of prolonged dry conditions in these regions.

According to FSNAU field reports, it is expected that the current rains would improve pasture and browse and eventually provide recovery to animals after an extended dry spell. This will, however, depend on the rainfall intensity and distribution in the successive weeks.

The recent rains helped to replenish water catchments in pastoral and agropastoral areas. Therefore, water trucking has ceased in many areas. Remigration of livestock is reported from Lower Juba riverine and dheshek areas to key pastoral areas.

Further analysis of the selected regions and districts are presented on page 3 and 4 of this update.

Map 1: April 2011: Monthly Rain Gauge data (mm)

ETHIOPIA

Source: SWALIM

This report is a compilation of climate data and field reports on Somalia that FSNAU and FEWSNET regularly review for analysis. For more information on data sources, please refer to page 2.

Source: NOAA

BARISANAG

SOOL

NUGAL

GALGADUD

MUDUG

M.SHABELLE

Indian Ocean

TOGDHEER

Gulf of Aden

W. GALBEED

HIRAN

L.SHABELLE

DJIBOUTI

GEDO

L.JUBA

M. JUBA

ETHIOPIA

AWDAL

BAY

BAKOOL

Source: NOAA

Gulf of Aden

BariSanagW. Galbeed

Togdheer SoolNugal

ETHIOPIA

L. Juba

M. Juba

BayL. Shabelle

Galgadud

Mudug

Bakool Hiran

Gedo

DJIBOUTI

Awdal

Indian Ocean

Gulf of Aden

BariSanagW. Galbeed

Togdheer SoolNugal

ETHIOPIA

L. Juba

M. Juba

Bay

L. Shabelle

Galgadud

Mudug

Bakool HiranGedo

DJIBOUTI

Awdal

Indian Ocean

Gulf of AdenBari

SanagW. Galbeed

Togdheer SoolNugal

ETHIOPIA

L. Juba

M. Juba

Bay

L. Shabelle

Galgadud

Mudug

Bakool Hiran

Gedo

DJIBOUTI

Awdal

Indian Ocean

Map 6: 1st Dekad (1-10)Gulf of Aden

BariSanag

W. Galbeed

Togdheer Sool

NugalETHIOPIA

L. Juba

M. Juba

Bay

L. Shabelle

Galgadud

Mudug

Bakool Indian Ocean

M. Shabelle

Hiran

Gedo

DJIBOUTI

Awdal

Gulf of Aden

BariSanag

W. GalbeedTogdheer Sool

NugalETHIOPIA

L. Juba

M. Juba

Bay

L. Shabelle

Galgadud

Mudug

Bakool Indian Ocean

M. Shabelle

Hiran

Gedo

DJIBOUTI

Awdal

Bari

M. Shabelle M. ShabelleM. Shabelle

Gulf of Aden

SanagW. Galbeed

Togdheer SoolNugal

ETHIOPIA

L. Juba

M. Juba

Bay

L. Shabelle

Galgadud

Mudug

Bakool

Indian Ocean

M. Shabelle

Hiran

Gedo

DJIBOUTI

Awdal

Highlights

2

Table 1: April 2011: Observed rain gauge data compared to long term monthly averages

Map 9: April 2011: Rainfall as % of long term mean

Source: NOAA

Map 10: April 2011: NDVI absolute difference from long term mean

Source: SPOT

Monthly rainfall and NDVI perfomance

Nothern Somalia stations Southern Somalia stations

Primary data sources are NOAA/USGS, MARS-JRC, FSNAU and SWALIM. Maps and graphs on this bulletin are produced from four sources.

• Current Rainfall Estimates and NDVI data are derived from NOAA/CPC and DEVCOCAST (www.devcocast.eu) respectively, while the rain gauge data is collected by FAO-SWALIM and FEWSNET.

• The seasonal profiles on page 3 and 4 are produced in collaboration with JRC-MARS. For more information visit http://mars.jrc.europa.eu/mars/About-us/FOODSEC

For more information on NDVI, visit http://earlywarning.usgs.gov/adds and http://fsausomali.org/fileadmin/uploads/1308.pdf

For information on FOODSEC Action of JRC, please refer to http://mars.jrc.ec.europa.eu/mars/About-us/FOODSEC

Monthly rainfall and NDVI perfomance maps

The Mapped NDVI and RFE above represent the differences from Long Term Mean. SPOT-NDVI is presented as absolute difference from Long Term Mean for the same period (current - long term mean), while NOAA-RFE is presented as the relative difference from Long Term Mean (Current*100)/LTM.

Seasonal trend graphs

The maps and graphs on the following pages (3 & 4) are produced in collaboration with the FOODSEC Action of the Joint Research Centre of the European Commision. The graphs present seasonal trends of crop specific NDVI (Normalised Difference Vegetation Index) as lines and rainfall values (RFE) as bars for each of the delineated land cover and administrative units (regions and districts).For more information or request on available data, please send an email to data@fsnau.org.

*N/A indicates missing data

Galgadud

Bay

Mudug

Hiran

Nugal

Bakool

M. Shabelle

M. Juba

ETHIOPIA

Gulf of AdenDJIBOUTI

Awdal

Togdheer

Bari

SoolW. albeed

Gedo

L. Juba

L. Shabelle

Indian Ocean

Sanag

Source: NOAA

Galgadud

Bay

Mudug

Hiran

Nugal

Bakool

M. Shabelle

M. Juba

ETHIOPIA

Gulf of AdenDJIBOUTI

Awdal

Togdheer

SanagBari

Sool

W. Galbeed

Gedo

L. JubaL. Shabelle

Indian Ocean

Source: SPOT

Region Station_Name dek 1 dek 2 dek 3 Apr-11 LTM

Awdal Borama 0.0 4.5 17.0 21.5 104.0

Bari Bossasso 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 4.0

Bari Qardo 0.0 0.0 3.5 3.5 26.0

Sanaag Eeerigavo 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 39.0

Sool Caynabo 0.0 0.0 5.0 5.0

Sool Las Aanod 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 14.0

Togdheer Burao 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 47.0

Wogooyi Galbeed Hargeisa 0.0 10.5 15.5 26.0 85.0

Nugaal Garowe 0.0 0.0 25.0 25.0

Region Station_Name dek 1 dek 2 dek 3 Apr-11 LTMBay Baidoa 0.0 25.0 0.0 165.0Bay Diinsor 0.0 10.0 0.0 10.0 138.0

Gedo Bardheere 0.0 34.5 15.0 49.5 0.0Gedo Luuq 0.0 4.0 0.0 4.0 82.0

Hiraan Belet weyne 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 72.0

Hiraan Bulo burti 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 70.0Middle Juba Marere 0.0 0.0 65.0 65.0 148.0Middle Shabelle Jowhar 0.0 30.0 9.0 39.0 100.0

Mudug Galkayo 0.0 1.5 1.5 3.0 37.0Lower Shabelle Genale 87.0

Bay Bardaale 0.0 31.5 54.0 85.5

3

Gedo Pastoral (Open Shrubs)

Hiran Agropastoral (Rainfed)

Lower Shabelle Agropastoral (Rainfed)

Nugal Pastoral (Savannah)

Togdheer Pastoral (Savannah)

Lower Shabelle Riverine (Irrigated)

Bakool Agropastoral (Rainfed)

Saanag Pastoral (Savannah)

Middle Shabelle Agropastoral (Rainfed)

Galgadud Pastoral (Herbaceous)

Bay Agropastoral (Rainfed)

Map 12: Pastoral Areas

Source: FAO-AFrICOvEr

Map 11: Agricultural Areas

"/

DJIBOUTI

Hagar

MOGADISHU

BARI

BAY

MUDUG

SANAG

GEDO

SOOL

L. JUBA

HIIRAN

GALGADUD

NUGAL

BAKOOL

TOGDHEER

M. JUBA

W. GALBEED

AWDAL

L. SHABELLE

M. SHABELLE

BANADIR

Source: SWALIM

Seasonal rainfall and NDVI trends by region

* The NDVI minimum represents the lowest value of NDVI recorded since 1999

4

Beletweyn (Irrigated)

Sakow Agropastoral (Rainfed) Adale Agropastoral (Rainfed)Jamame Agropastoral (Irrigated)

Hargeisa Agropastoral (Rainfed)Map 14: Pastoral Areas

Source: FAO-AFRICOVER

Map 13: Agricultural Areas

Source: SWALIM

Eyl (Savannah)

Galkayo Pastoral (Savannah)

Afmadow Pastoral (Herbaceous) Abudwak Pastoral (Herbaceous)

Lasanod Pastoral (Herbaceous)Alula Pastoral (Open Shrubs)

Seasonal rainfall and NDVI trends for selected districts

Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation SDC

Funding AgenciesTechnical and

Managerial Support

* The NDVI minimum represents the lowest value of NDVI recorded since 1999