Abstract
Air temperature is one of the fundamental indicators of Climate Change in any place on earth. Understanding the changing patterns of air temperature in Yobe State is instrumental in establishing the manifestation of Climate Change in the area and to enables the policy makers to design the best mechanisms to cope with the vagaries of increasing temperature. This study examined the changing patterns of temperature in Yobe State as an evidence of Climate Change. The study used mean monthly minimum and maximum air temperature data collected from the archives of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) with respect to Nguru and Potiskum weather stations in the State for a period of 1956-2015. The data was analyzed using descriptive statistics, linear regression trend lines and coefficient of variation (C.V). The result showed that April is the hottest month with the highest mean maximum temperatures of 39.6°C and 38.6°C in Nguru and Potiskum respectively while January is the coldest month with mean temperatures of 30.5°C and 30.8°C for Nguru and Potiskum respectively. Further finding revealed that temperatures are highly variable in February in both Nguru and Potiskum with C.V of 8.7% and 5.7% and less variable in October with C.V of 2.0%. Finding showed that in general term, there were upward trends in monthly and annual positive temperature anomalies ranging from 0.2°C to as high as 4.0°C in some months and years in the state. The study concludes that temperatures in Yobe State have witnessed series of changes within the 60 years period. Therefore, it is suggested that stakeholders in the Yobe State Environmental Protection Agency should intensify efforts in reducing deforestation while encouraging people on afforestation with a view to reducing the impact of Greenhouse gases that are contributing to more warming than normal. There should be adequate electricity and water supply for immediate relieve from excessive heat emanating from high temperature.
Highlights
Climate Change has been a global challenge in the recent time
The lowest mean maximum and lowest mean minimum temperature of 30.8°C and 13.4°C were recorded respectively during the month of January in Potiskum. This implies that the month of April remains the hottest month in Yobe while the month of January remains the coldest month in Yobe State. Factors such as the prevailing air masses, which determine the seasons in Nigeria, the movement of ITDZ, the location of the area being in the Semi-arid region of Nigeria that is characterized with cloudless sky, longer duration of sunshine hours, plain terrain, etc are responsible for high air temperature in the place
It is important to note that the coldest temperature during the month of colder temperatures experienced during the months of January and December were attributed to the influence of the domination of harmattan wind [16]
Summary
Climate Change has been a global challenge in the recent time. It is clear to environment experts and scientists that changes in the global climate is due to the surge in the Greenhouse Gases emission, which are trapping more heat [1]. The rise in the World temperature by 1.5°C above the pre-industrial era will have greater impact on land, biodiversity and ecosystem, including species loss and extinction This will cause greater risks to heat, livelihood, food security, water supply, human security and economic growth [6]. Sub-Saharan African countries have been portrayed as the most vulnerable region to the impact of global Climate Change because of their reliance on agriculture that is sensitive to weather and climate variability [7]. It is evident from the review of Kotir, [8] that the climate of Africa is already exhibiting significant changes as a result of changes in the average temperature.
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