Chew, Swee Theng (2014) Variation of rainfall distribution in Tawau (2010-2013). Universiti Malaysia Sabah.
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Abstract
This study focuses on the variation of rainfall, wind speed and direction in Tawau, Sabah during monsoon season from 2000 - 2013. The meteorological data was obtained from Meteorological Department Sabah and statistical analysis is carried out to enhance the findings. The results show that the amount of rainfall brought by Southwest monsoon and Northeast monsoon has no significant different. The lowest amount of rainfall over the 14 years was recorded during Inter-monsoon season with 16 % or 4605 mm. Winds were strongest during Southwest monsoon with average monthly wind speeds, 14.2 m/s and achieved the highest monthly wind speed, 18.6 m/s in 2002. The dominant winds during the Southwest monsoon are southwesterly wind. Northeast monsoon also dominated by southwesterly wind in 2000, 2001, 2003 and 2004. The trend of being dominated by southwesterly winds obviously changed to southeasterly winds since 2005. The change of wind direction was probably caused by El-Nino Modoki, a new atmospheric-ocean system had evolved from a convectional El-Nino. Generally, El-Nino brought low amount of rainfall to Tawau, below 2000 mm except in the year of 2006 and 2007. Madden Julian Oscillation (MJO) in earlier months of 2006 and a neutral condition starts in mid-2007 and a moderate La-Nina event starts in November 2007 have contributed to the majority of annual rainfall amount with 2632 mm and 2310 mm in respective years. The annual rainfall amount received during La-Nina year was relatively high and all above 2000mm. MJO tends to occur during neutral condition and La-Nina. However, the strong wind during strong La-Nina can cause MJO to die prematurely like in year 2010. There were three consecutive years (2006, 2007 and 2008) that experienced positive Indian Ocean Dipole (100) and a positive 100 in 2007 evolved together with a La-Nina in the Pacific. The regional SST pattern and the geographical feature are the reasons behind this extremely rare event. This project can provide baseline data in Tawau to incorporate to more specific studies like future projection in climate change and also help policy makers to make an environmental management plan by considering the regional climate.
| Item Type: | Academic Exercise |
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| Keyword: | rainfall, wind speed, direction, monsoon season |
| Subjects: | Q Science > QC Physics |
| Department: | FACULTY > Faculty of Science and Natural Resources |
| Depositing User: | ADMIN ADMIN |
| Date Deposited: | 18 Oct 2016 10:27 |
| Last Modified: | 13 Nov 2017 10:34 |
| URI: | https://eprints.ums.edu.my/id/eprint/14657 |
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