Seasonal Climatic Suitability for Malaria Transmission

This map shows the number of months suitable for malaria transmission, based on climatological averages. Suitability is defined as the coincidence of precipitation accumulation greater than 80 mm, mean temperature between 18°C and 32°C, and relative humidity greater than 60%.

Temperature, precipitation and relative humidity are factors of mosquito development time as well as an indicator of Plasmodium parasite development within the mosquito vectors (Grover-Kopec et al., 2006).

Dataset Documentation

Precipitation climatology is compiled on a 0.0375° x 0.0375° lat/lon grid from ENACTS precipitation data set. Temperature climatology is compiled on a 1km x 1km lat/lon grid from United States Geological Survey (USGS) LandDAAC MODIS. Relative Humidity climatology is compiled on a 2.5° x 2.5° lat/lon grid from NCEP/NCAR CDAS/Reanalysis.

This map is based on a theoretical model of climate data and is not based on actual malaria data.

Precipitation Climatology

Data

Monthly precipitation over land areas on a 0.0375° x 0.0375° lat/lon grid

Base Period for Climatology

1991-2020

Data Source

ENACTS (data).

Temperature Climatology

Data

Monthly temperature over land areas on a 1km x 1km lat/lon grid

Base Period for Climatology

1991-2020

Data Source

United States Geological Survey, Land Processes Distributed Active Archive Center, Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (USGS LandDAAC MODIS).

Relative Humidity Climatology

Data

Monthly specific humidity data (converted to rh) on a 2.5° x 2.5° lat/lon grid

Base Period for Climatology

1991-2020

Data Source

National Centers for Environmental Prediction/National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCEP/NCAR CDAS/Reanalysis)

Epidemiological Mask

Mask

illustrating areas where malaria is considered to be epidemic. Areas where malaria transmission is considered absent or endemic are therefore excluded. This mask is based purely on climatic constraints to malaria transmission, and does not yet account for areas in the northern and southern margins of the continent where control has eliminated malaria risk.

Reference

WHO: Final report on the 3rd meeting of the RBM Technical Resource Network on Epidemic Prevention and Control. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2002.

Instructions

The default map displays the number of months suitable for malaria transmission over Malawi.

The interface consists of a clickable map that allows users to generate customized analyses for a location of interest. When a desired location is clicked, four time series graphs are generated that provide analyses of how often suitability has occurred in the historical record 1981-2020.

The "Map Shows" drop down menu allows users to isolate a single climatic variable and show the percent occurrence of malaria suitability based on that variable.

The interface consists of a clickable map that allows users to generate customized time series graphs.

How to use this interactive map?

Helpdesks

Contact dccmsmaproom.malawi@gmail.com with any technical questions or problems with this Map Room, for example, the forecasts not displaying or updating properly.