Trend and spatial-temporal variation of drought characteristics over equatorial East Africa during the last 120 years

Centennial drought characteristics in Equatorial East Africa (EEA) is investigated using the Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI) derived from Climatic Research Unit (CRU) dataset. The spatial pattern of distribution, as well duration, intensity and frequency, are analyzed for SPEI at a 3-month timescale March-April-May (MAM) season. Rotated Empirical Orthogonal Function (REOF), Mann-Kendall method (MK), wavelet analyses used to study drought’s pattern, trend, periodicity. result principal component analysis returned six homogenous sub-regions. A low frequency characterizes EEA (<20%). MAM season lasts between 2.2 2.8 months. Overall, showed weak long-term drying trend most parts that were significant some sub-regions insignificant others. An increase areal extent after 1980s could be ascribed potential evapotranspiration (PET) consistent with negative value over apparent mainly attributed moderate severe droughts area rather than extreme areas. spectral further reveals inter-annual variability periodicities less 8 years dominates all Africa, which associated critical role El-Niño driving variations EEA.