The main climatic features which help explain Ethiopias climatic resources are spatial and temporal distribution

of rainfall and temperature. Rainfall Distribution and Regimes: In general,the highest mean annual rainfall, over 2,400 mm, is in the southwestern highlands in Illubabor Zone of Oromia Region.(click here to see map of Oromia regon...) The amount of rainfall gradually decrease about 600 mm in the north in areas bordering Eritrea, drops to less than 100 mm in the northeast in Afar, and to around 200 mm in the southeast in the Ogaden The pattern of annual rainfall distribution in Ethiopia is mainly influenced by two moist wind systems, one blowing from the Atlantic Ocean, the other from the Indian Ocean. Based on this rainfall distribution pattern, the following four major rainfall regimes can be delineated: Central, eastern and northern areas of the country experience a bimodal rainfall pattern, receiving the majority of their rainfall from the Atlantic, while some derive from the Indian Ocean. The big rains from June to September come mainly from the Atlantic, while the small Spring rains between February and May come from the Indian Ocean. In each case, the amount of rainfall and the length of rainfall season decreases the further north one goes. Western and southwestern parts of the country experience a unimodal rainfall pattern brought about by wind systems coming from the Indian Oceans combining with those from the Atlantic to give continuous rain from March or April to October or November. The amount of rainfall and length of the rainy season decreases from south to north. Southern and southeastern parts of the country experience a bimodal rainfall pattern brought about by the wind system coming from the Indian Ocean from September to November and from March to May. The most reliable rainy months are April and May. Northeastern parts of the country comprise part of the western escarpment of the Rift valley and the adjacent Afar depression. The lowlands have only one rainy season when only a little rain falls. However, the escarpment, particularly in the north, can have a third rainy season brought by moist winds from Asia which cross the Arabian Peninsula and cool as they rise over the Ethiopian escarpment. These bring mist and rain anytime between November and February. Monthly temperatures: In general,the highest mean maximum temperatures in the country is about 45 degree Centigrade, from April to September 40 degree Centigrade and from October to March are recorded from the Afar Depression in northeast Ethiopia. The other hot areas are the northwestern lowlands, which experience a mean maximum temperature of 400 degree

Centigrade in June, and the western and southeastern lowlands with mean maximum temperatures of 35 degree Centigrade to 40 degree Centigrade during April. The lowest mean temperatures, of 40 degree Centigrade or lower are recorded at night in highland areas over 2,000 m asl between November and February (National Metrological Services Agency, 1989; Ethiopian Mapping Authority, 1988). Many of these areas, particularly in valley bottoms, have 4,000 m asl and experience snow and frozen rain. The Traditional Classification of Climatic Zones in Ethiopia The major factors influencing rainfall in Ethiopia are the Inter tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) and winds blowing from the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. In addition, there are microclimatic variations over relatively small distances created by micro-relief differences. Altitude also influences climatic conditions. The traditional classification of climatic zones in Ethiopia is based on altitude and temperature. It divides the country into the following five major climatic zones: BEREHA (hot arid) covers the desert lowlands which are found below 500 m asl where average annual rainfall is less than 400 mm and average annual temperatures range between 280 Centigrade and 340 Centigrade or higher. Soils are light coloured and sandy, but if the water table is high, they can be salty. BEREHA vegetation is very open with much bare ground. The dominant woody plants are various species of Acacia and commiphora. Crops are possible only with irrigation. There are no forests in this zone. KOLLA (warm to hot semi-arid) is the climate of the hot lowlands with an altitudinal range of 500-1,500 m asl. Average annual rainfall is generally around 600 but can be as high as 1,600 mm in the wet western lowlands of Gambella. Average annual temperatures are between 200 Centigrade and 280 Centigrade. Major soil types include yellow sandy, yellow silty and oxidized red clay, but there are extensive areas of alluvium and heavy black soils along the major river valleys. Rain fed crop production is dominated by sorghum, cowpea, groundnuts and sesame. At higher altitudes in this zone a whole range of crops is grown including teff, maize, niger seed, finger millet, cowpea and haricot bean. This zone includes the lower sections of the main river valleys were cotton, sugarcane, vegetables and tree fruits are grown on a large scale under irrigation. The estates for coffee production in the southwest are in the KOLLA zone. This zone also includes the humid transitional forests along the foot of the western escarpment of Ethiopia. WEINA DEGA (warm to cool semi-humid) is the zone which covers the temperate highlands that fall in the altitudinal range 1,5002,500 m asl. Average annual temperatures are between 160 Centigrade and 200 Centigrade

and rainfall per annum is generally around 1,200 mm. In the southwest it reaches 2,400 mm. This is the most agriculturally productive zone in the country and all the most important crops are grown. The soils are light brown to yellow, red brown, red clay soils. The weina dega zone includes all the remaining high montane forest of the country. DEGA (cool to cold humid) describes the cool temperature highlands wit an altitude range of 2,500 to 3,200 m asl and average temperatures between 100 Centigrade and 160 Centigrade. Annual rainfall is around 1,000 and up to 2,000 mm at higher areas. Crops, which grow in this zone, are barely, wheat, and pulses. Just one crop is harvested in the moist DEGA and two crops in the wet DEGA areas per year. Soils are mostly clay, brown and dark-brown on slopes and heavy vertisols on flatter areas. The remnants Afromontane coniferous forests are found in this zone. WURCH (cold moist temperature) coincides with the Afroalpine areas on the higher areas on the highest areas of the plateaus. The lower limit of the WURCH zone generally coincides with the transition from coniferous forest to the vegetation dominated by ASTA (Erica arborea). This happens between 3,200 and 3,500 m asl. Average temperature is below 100 Centigrade and average annual rainfall is generally below 800 mm. The only crop that is capable of growing at this high altitude is barely. The vegetation is combination of asta bushlands and montane grassland and moorland. The soils are black from their high humus content. The dominant crops of each agro-climatic zone have become the staple food in their zones.