Impacts of modified albedo on climate and implications on urban floods in East Africa
Host institution University of Nairobi
Grant year 2021
Project summary
In Kenya, the team led by Dr Franklin J. Opijah aim to enhance the robustness of previous work on climate and SRM impacts in Eastern Africa, focusing on Addis Ababa, Dar es Salaam, Kampala, and Nairobi. The study will address limitations by expanding climate models (using GAUSS and GeoMIP), including the SSP585 scenario, broadening climate extreme indices, and adopting the EF5 hydrological model for better temporal flexibility. It will assess observed and modelled temperature, precipitation, and streamflow to evaluate how geoengineering and albedo changes influence rainfall extremes and urban flooding. Methods include downscaling model outputs, analysing climate extremes and trends, validating model performance, and conducting flood simulations. The research will improve understanding of SRM’s potential role in mitigating climate risks, inform climate-resilient urban planning, and foster dialogue among stakeholders. Ultimately, it aims to support policy development and disaster preparedness for sustainable urban growth in a climate-vulnerable region.
