Impacts of Temperature and Precipitation Variability in Northeast Nigeria: a Case Study of Yobe State

Abstract

Agada Livinus Emeka* and Sonloye Seyi Abiodun

Understanding the impacts of temperature and precipitation variability is important to successful climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies. Given the increasing effects of global warming which have manifested in extreme weather events such as heatwaves, droughts and floods in the study area. The study of its impacts became necessary as it threatens agricultural production, human health and other socioeconomic activities. This study investigated the variability in temperature and precipitation in northeast Nigeria, using Yobe State as a case study. Temperature and Precipitation data for forty years (1981-2020) were obtained from two Nigerian Meteorological stations (Potiskum and Nguru) and the data were used for the study. The data were analyzed using basic statistical tools, Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) and Standard Anomaly Index (SAI). The results obtained showed that the study area is fast warming. The analyzed maximum and minimum temperatures indicated that there was a steady increase in temperature in the study area. The magnitude and precipitation pattern in the study area have changed over the studied period and their variability will continue with the increasing global warming. Precipitation in Nguru is declining and the temperature is fast rising. Agricultural activities such as crop production, fishing and animal rearing were grossly affected due to the abysmal shrinking of the Nguru and Gashua rivers. Irrigation farming and water availability were also affected due to the lowering of the groundwater table. Extreme weather conditions such as droughts, floods and heatwaves were observed to be increasing in the study area and their effects were exacerbated by desertification and deforestation processes. Massive tree planting should be encouraged by both the public and the government to reduce desertification and increase evapotranspiration in the study area. By extension, the obtained results are a reflection of the impact of climate variability in northeastern Nigeria.