FECT

Abstract: The rainfall in Timor-Leste is evaluated with a numerical weather model. This study is the first step to investigate the potential of micro hydro power in this country. There are rain and dry seasons in the country. The rain season is from December to the next April, and its monthly amount is about 80 to 100 mm/month at the coastal area. The rains in the season don't continue within several days, they are concentrated on a few days of heavy rainfall, with little rain on other days. Inland area receives more rainfall than the coastal in rain season. The tops of high and steep mountains get a lot of rains in the season, and it reaches more than 500 mm/month. On the other hand, the dry season is from June to October, and the rainfall is only 10 mm/month or less. The amount of rainfall in the year reaches 3,000 mm/year or more near the tops of mountains, and the inland area received much rainfall about 1,000 mm/year or more while the coastal area gets less than 500 mm/year.

Keywords: alternative energy, renewable energy, micro hydropower, Seiçal river basin, WRF.