Definitions and basic concepts

The Aridity index (1) can be estimated by the Bagnouls-Gaussen index (BGI) using the following equation: n BGI = S (2ti - Pi)*k i=1 where: ti is the mean air temperature for month i in 0C, Pi is the total precipitation for month i in mm; and k represents the proportion of month during which 2ti - Pi >0. Aridity index can be also defined as the ratio between mean annual precipitation (P) and mean annual evapotranspiration- (ETP) calculated with the Penman formula.

Benchmarks Indication of the values/ranges of value

The aridity index defined as the ratio P/ETP has been proposed by the UNCCD to identify areas prone to using the following three classes: >0.65 - humid 0.5-0.65 - dry <0.5 - arid

Each class corresponds to many climatic zones (humid, dry sub-humid; arid and semi-arid respectively) and a different score is assigned to each. According to the UNCCD desertification cannot exists without a certain level of aridity (between 0.05 and 0.65). The following benchmarks have been defined for the definition of ESAs based on the estimation of the BagnoulsGaussen index (BGI): BGI<50, 50-75, 75-100, 100-125, 125-150, >150 Methods of measurement Limits of the indicator The aridity index can be easily calculate using long term monthly meteorological data such as rainfall, air temperature, wind speed, sunshine duration, relative humidity, etc. The quality of the indicator depends on the number and distribution of meteorological monitoring stations over an area. Since meteorological parameters are very variable in time and space, the stations have to be evenly distributed across an area covering the whole range of climatic conditions. Rainfall, Slope aspect, Vegetation cover, Water availability, Fire risk, Rainfall seasonality, Soil salinity index

Linkages with other

indicators
CLIMATE: Madagascar has a tropical maritime climate which is influenced by altitude, the monsoons and its proximity to the sea. In general, the highlands have a temperate climate with warm rainy weather from November to April and cooler temperatures from May to October. The average annual precipitation varies from 1,000 to 1,500 mm (39 to 59 inches). The coastal region has a tropical climate with no completely dry season. The heaviest rainfall occurs on the coastal region between May and September with average annual precipitation varying from 2,030 mm to 3,250 mm (80 to 120 inches). Average temperature ranges in Antananarivo are from 9 to 20 degrees Celsius (48 to 68 degrees Fahrenheit) in July to 16 to 27 degrees Celsius (61 to 81 degrees Fahrenheit) in December.

Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Mean Temperature C Mean Total Rainfall (mm) Mean Number of Rain Days Daily Daily Minimum Maximum 16.6 27.7 270.4 18 16.9 25.9 256.9 17 16.3 25.4 183.1 17 15.2 24.8 50.5 9 12.9 22.9 20.1 6 10.8 20.9 7.2 6 10.3 20.2 11.1 8 10.3 20.6 15.0 9 11.3 23.0 9.5 4 13.4 25.2 66.6 8 15.1 26.0 170.8 14 16.3 25.8 304.1 20