Abstract

The variability and trend of air temperature over Addis Ababa, Bole station, had been
investigated using station data obtained from the National Meteorological Agency of Ethiopia.
Descriptive statistics had been used in measuring central tendency, particularly the mean value,
and measure variation to determine coefficients of variability of the temperature using excel. The
statistically significant of the trend was tested using Mann Kendell’s trend test.
The mean annual temperature of Addis Ababa, Bole station, was found to be 16.8oC. The
minimum and Maximum mean annual air temperature values of the station were 10.1oC and
23.6oC respectively. May was the hottest month with mean annual temperature value of 18. 6oC
and December was the coldest month with mean annual temperature of 15.2oC for the station.
Air temperature variability was the highest for November and the lowest for August months.
Seasonally, Bega had the highest air temperature variability while Kiremt had experienced the
least air temperature variability. The minimum temperature was more variable than the
maximum comparatively.
All of the months had experienced increasing and statistically significant trends with 95% and
more confidence levels. Air temperature of the three seasons as well as the mean annual
temperature had increasing and statistically significant trends with different levels of
significance. Annual mean minimum and maximum air temperatures had increasing and
decreasing trends respectively.

Extreme temperature values and recording times were recognized. The maximum ever recorded
air temperature, 29.7oC, was recorded in 2002 while the minimum one, which is 0.4oC, was in
1994.
The trend of mean annual temperature ranges of the station was decreasing in the period of this
study at the rate of 0.0584oC in each year.
There was no frost day and the number of summer days was increasing for the station. The
spatial and temporal domains of this work were Addis Ababa, Bole station, and 1989-2018
respectively.

Key words: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Temperature, Trend, Variability, Climate change, Mann
Kendell