Sample NMS Reference Report by YONTCHANG G - University of ...

BACKGROUND:
1). Extreme climate events increasingly important for Cameroon
Climate extremes such as droughts and floods have increased in frequency and severity in
Africa over the past 30 years (Nicholson, 1987). The probability of extreme climate events is
becoming increasingly important for Cameroon because of the inherent vulnerability of its
agricultural system and even the associated risk of the potential spread of plant, animal as
well as human diseases (malaria, typhoid, cholera, etc.) that are highly linked to climate
variability and climate change.
2) Location and climate of Douala, Cameroon in Africa
Cameroon lies within latitudes 1°45΄N to 13°΄N and Longitude 8°25΄E to 16°28΄E. It is
situated on the west coast of Africa, running north to south from Sahara desert to the Atlantic
Ocean. The country is bounded on the north by Lake Chad; on the east by Chad and the
Central African Republic; on the south by the Republic of the Congo, Gabon, and Equatorial
Guinea; and on the west by the Bight of Biafra (an arm of the Atlantic Ocean) and Nigeria
(Figure 1). The country is shaped like an elongated triangle, and forms a bridge between West
Africa and Central Africa. Cameroon has a total area of 475,442 km 2 . Yaoundé is the capital,
and Douala is the largest city. The major industries (petroleum refineries, fishing industries,
international air transports and others) are located in this region.
Douala city is situated at the junction of the southern coastal plain region with dense
equatorial rain forests and the west area of high forested mountains of volcanic origin, where
lies Mount Cameroon Mountain (4095m), the highest peak in western Africa and an active
volcano. One of the country‟s most fertile soils is found in this region. July and August are
seen to be the peak of the rainy season, with a lowest total of 207.4mm in July 2003 and one
year (August1966) with over 1240mm. The rains are usually from January to December,
though December, January and February are occasionally dry. The mean maximum relative
humidity occurs here due to its proximity to Atlantic Ocean (exposure to the warm Guinean
Gulf‟s currents).
Here, the type and intensity of the weather is determined by the meridional variations in the
depth of the monsoon layer (moisture). The southwest (SW) monsoon flow at lower levels,
source of humidity to a large extent determined by the large scale atmospheric circulation and
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