Trends in mean and extreme precipitation in the Mount Kenya region from observations and reanalyses

Land and water management in semi-arid regions requires detailed information on precipitation distribution, including extremes, and changes therein. Such information is often lacking. This paper describes statistics of mean and extreme precipitation in a unique data set from the Mount Kenya region, encompassing around 50 stations with at least 30 years of data. We describe the data set, including quality control procedures and statistical break detection. Trends in mean precipitation and extreme indices calculated from these data for individual rainy seasons are compared with corresponding trends in reanalysis products. From 1979 to 2011, mean precipitation decreased at 75% of the stations during the ‘long rains’ (March to May) and increased at 70% of the stations during the ‘short rains’ (October to December). Corresponding trends are found in the number of heavy precipitation days, and maximum of consecutive 5-day precipitation. Conversely, an increase in consecutive dry days within both main rainy seasons is found. However, trends are only statistically significant in very few cases. Reanalysis data sets agree with observations with respect to interannual variability, while correlations are considerably lower for monthly deviations (ratios) from the mean annual cycle. While some products well reproduce the rainfall climatology and some the spatial trend pattern, no product reproduces both.

Sermon at the annual Dudleian lecture at Harvard College in Cambridge, May 14th, 1760

The hand-sewn notebook contains a 41-page manuscript draft of the Dudleian lecture delivered by Samuel Wigglesworth on May 14, 1760 at Harvard College. The sermon begins with the Biblical text I Cor. 1:21. The copy includes a small number of edits and struck-out words. The covers are no longer with the item.

Sermon at the annual Dudleian lecture, May 13th, 1772

The hand-sewn notebook contains a 108-page manuscript draft of the Dudleian lecture delivered by Benjamin Stevens on May 13, 1772 at Harvard College. The sermon begins with the Biblical text Heb. 1:1, 2. The copy includes a small number of edits and struck-out words. The cover page is no longer attached.

Sermon on redemption by David Tappan, 1781

Sewn notebook containing a forty-six page handwritten sermon composed by David Tappan based on the Biblical text Isaiah 65: 17, 18 and the subject of redemption. Tappan delivered the sermon multiple times as evidenced by the note on the first page, "March 11, 18, 25 Spring April 1781 Frisbee July 1782, Byfield July 1783, Lynn, Kimball. Dr. Huntington, Deerfield, French, Merrill, Dana."

Green-wood illustrated : in highly finished line engraving, from drawings taken on the spot /

Avery Classics (Offsite) copy: Signed "Josephine Doughine" and bound in cover with imprint "Josephie Dougherty"; stamped "Whitlock."

A discourse on the life, character, and public services of Ambrose Spenser, late Chief justice of the Supreme court of New York : delivered ... before the bar of the city of Albany, 1849.

With this are bound: Potter, H. A sermon occasioned by the death of the Hon. Ambrose Spencer, and Sprague, W. B. A discourse commemorative of the late Hoh. Ambrose Spenser.

Report on the Blackwell's Island bridge (Queensboro bridge).

Mode of access: Internet.

A discourse on the duty of sustaining the laws occasioned by the burning of the Ursuline Convent : delivered at the First Church in Medford, Sunday, August 24, 1834 /

"Published by request."

Two sermons on the death of Rev. Ezra Ripley, D.D. : one preached at the funeral by Rev. Barzillai Frost, of Concord, the other on the following Sabbath by Rev. Convers Francis.

Each sermon has distinctive title page.

A descant on the universal plan, or, Universal salvation,

Ascribed also to the Rev. John Peck, 1780-1849.

A treatise on the intellectual character and civil and political condition of the Colored people of the U. States and the prejudice exercised towards them /

"The sermon as proposed in our title page, is omitted."

The relation of Christianity to civil government in the United States : a sermon, preached in St. Michael's Church, Charleston, February 13th, 1833, before the convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church of the Diocese of South-Carolina /

Cover title: Rev. J. Adams' convention sermon on the relation of Christianity to civil government in the United States of America.