Wigdan Dirar Ahmed1*, Najwa Mohammed Ari2
1Department of Geography, Faculty of Education, University of the Holy Quran and Islamic Sciences, Omdurman, Sudan
2Department of Geography, Faculty of Arts, University of Neelain, Khartoum, Sudan
Volume: 18 | Issue: 1 | Pages: 117-130| March2026 | https://doi.org/10.54940/ss85365598 | PDF
Received: 19/11/2025 | Revised: 16/02/2026 | Accepted: 24/02/2026
*Corresponding Author: dr.wegdanahmed@gmail.com
Abstract
This study focuses on examining how topographic factors—specifically elevation, slope, and aspect—affect the distribution of rainfall in North Kordofan over the period 1990–2024. Data from a Digital Elevation Model (DEM/SRTM) and rainfall data obtained from the CHIRPS dataset were utilized, in combination with Geo-graphic Information Systems (GIS) tools. The study employed both simple and multiple regression models to analyze the relationships among the variables.The results indicate that elevation is the most influential factor, with a correlation coefficient (R) of approxi-mately 0.948. Elevation also retained its statistical significance in the multiple regression model after incorpo-rating latitude and aspect, with a coefficient of determination (R²) of about 0.015. In contrast, slope and as-pect exhibited weak negative relationships, with values of approximately −0.016 and −0.048, respectively, in-dicating their limited role as independent variables. The study further identified a critical elevation of around 1,121 meters, above which rainfall begins to increase noticeably.Finally, the study recommends integrating digital elevation models into agricultural planning and water re-source management strategies to improve water resource utilization and enhance productivity.
Keywords
Geographic Information Systems, Density Curves, Spatial Analysis, Critical Elevation, Topographic Plots.
How to Cite
Ahmed, W. Ari, N. (2026). Analyzing the Impact of Topography on the Spatial Distribution of Rainfall in North Kor-dofan Using a Digital Elevation Model (DEM). Journal of Umm Al-Qura University for Social Sciences, 18(1), 117-130. https://doi.org/10.54940/ss85365598
License
Copyright (c) 2026. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC)