RAINFALL VARIABILITY IN THE PLATEAU REGION OF TOGO

The Plateau region of Togo is classified under the Guinean tropical climate based on its latitude. Therefore, it should experience two rainy seasons and two dry seasons. However, a rainfall study of the stations in this region reveals a distinct characteristic compared to other stations in southern Togo. The question arises as to whether the evolving rainfall patterns in the region align with the previous classification. The aim of this study is to identify factors for a new categorization of rainfall amounts in the Plateau region of Togo. The data used for the study include rainfall amounts from the Atakpamé and Kouma-Konda stations to examine the evolution of rainfall over time and track the dynamics of the seasons. The rainfall data from the Tabligbo and Niamtougou stations are used for comparison. The construction of Gaussen diagrams is the primary method employed to monitor the distribution of rainy and dry seasons over time. The results indicate that the four seasons (two rainy and two dry) are gradually being replaced by two seasons (one rainy and one dry). Thus, the Guinean tropical climate shows a trend of shifting toward a Sudanian tropical climate in the Plateau region of Togo.