NimahMasuud/Sub-saharan-Africa-rainfall-climate-change-analysis

Analysis of climate change impacts on rainfall patterns in Sub-Saharan Africa (1991–2023) using Python and data science techniques. # Climate Change and Rainfall Patterns in Sub-Saharan Africa (1991–2023) ## Overview This project analyzes the impact of climate change on rainfall patterns across Sub-Saharan Africa between 1991 and 2023. Rainfall is a critical climate variable in the region, directly influencing agriculture, water availability, food security, and livelihoods. Using historical climate data, the analysis explores long-term rainfall trends, regional differences, relationships with key climate indicators, and the occurrence of extreme rainfall events. --- ## Research Question **What is the effect of climate change on rainfall patterns in Sub-Saharan Africa between 1991 and 2023?** --- ## Dataset Description The dataset covers multiple Sub-Saharan African countries over a 33-year period (1991–2023). It includes annual observations of rainfall and other climate-related variables. ### Key Variables - **year** – Observation year - **country** – Country name - **precipitation(mm)** – Annual rainfall (millimeters) - **avg_temp_c** – Average temperature (°C) - **avg_humidity(%)** – Average humidity (%) - **cloud_cover(%)** – Cloud cover (%) - **atmospheric_co2(ppm)** – Atmospheric CO₂ concentration (ppm) - **sea_level(cm)** – Sea level measurements (cm) - Additional climate indicators --- ## Methodology The analysis followed a structured, data-driven approach: 1. Data loading, validation, and preparation 2. Exploratory data analysis to understand distributions and variability 3. Trend analysis of average annual rainfall across Sub-Saharan Africa 4. Correlation analysis between rainfall and key climate variables 5. Country-level and regional rainfall comparisons 6. Identification of extreme rainfall events 7. Decadal comparison of rainfall patterns All analysis was conducted using Python and standard data science libraries. --- ## Key Findings - Rainfall across Sub-Saharan Africa shows strong year-to-year variability. - A slight long-term decline in average rainfall is observed ov …