Evaluating extreme climatic indices in a mountainous region using satellite data: a framework to advance climate resilience and sustainable development

ABSTRACT Batwa communities inhabiting Uganda's complex topography lack timely access to climate information services (CISs) due to scarce meteorological stations. Tailoring historical satellite data to local spatio-temporal dimensions is central to catalyzing sustainable development goals (SDGs). This study employed satellite data from 1983 to 2023 to inform sustainable and climate-smart decision-making for the Batwa communities in southwestern Uganda. Daily precipitation (DPR) and air temperature data were obtained from the Climate Hazard Group Infrared Precipitation with Station (CHIRPS) and the NASA Power website (NASAPW), respectively. ClimPACT3 model was employed to generate climate indices (CIs) while R-Instat was utilized to perform statistical analysis. Results revealed that the area experiences wetter than normal conditions, with precipitation (PR) ranges of 1,006–1,489 mm. A significant (p-value < 0.05) increase in the annual sum of daily precipitation (ASDPR) > the 95th percentile was observed. The daily minimum temperature (DTMin.) and maximum temperature (DTMax.) ranged from 13.1 to 14.5 °C and 24.0 to 26.4 °C, respectively. The current study connected the implications of the results to the broader SDGs. The synergies between SDG 13 and other SDGs were also established. Therefore, the study's outcomes are imperative in advancing climate resilience for the agricultural, health, and water resources sectors.