Climatic information as evidence of desertification processes in northern Yobe State, Nigeria: Implications for agriculture and ecosystem

Ambrose A Zemba,Nankap L Binbol,Yarima Umar

doi:10.4314/gjpas.v24i1.14

Abstract

This study was formulated to investigate the potential contribution of climatic parameters to desertification processes in northern Yobe State, Nigeria. Rainfall and temperature data for 43 years were obtained from the Nigeria Meteorological (NiMet) office Maiduguri and subjected to statistical and agro-climatological analysis. Results indicate that the study area has characteristics of a typical semi-arid environment with annual rainfall and temperature totals of 432.3mm and 340C respectively. These parameters are highly variable over the year with considerable biological impact and may well show how the area’s ecosystem will experience and respond to future climate change. Trend analysis further confirmed that these variables fluctuate greatly. A shift in rainfall pattern in recent years was observed with high intensity recorded in July as against August previously. There has been a gradual delay in onset and early cessation of rains in the area. Hydrologic ratio of 0.255 further demonstrates an arid condition of the region with a seasonality index of 1.18, meaning that rain falls within just 3 months in the area. The index of replicability and quantity of water needed (Specific Water Consumption) to avert drought shows that the area is getting drier. All of these point to the presence of desertification processes in the region. Desertification mitigation measures such as massive tree planting campaign need to be put in place to avert negative consequences of the phenomenon.Keywords: Agro-climatology, Desertification, Rainfall, Temperature, Yobe.

Highlights

It has been widely documented (Veron et al 2006, Mainguet 1994, Williams and Balling 1996, Reynolds and Stafford 2002) that desertification has been and still taking its toll in the environment and by extension, human livelihoods of the arid and semi-arid regions of the world
Some of these researchers have made use of such statements as “desert is encroaching at the rate of 5.5km per annum (Lamprey 1975); desert is expanding at 6km per annum and 70% of all drylands is affected by desertification (UNEP 1992); desertification shows an increase from 48 to 117 hectares of lands from 1984 – 1991” and so on to describe the environmental condition in Nigeria
Rainfall and temperature data were collected for 43 years (1974-2016) from the Nigeria Meteorological (NiMet) office at International Airport, Maiduguri, Nigeria

Summary

Introduction

It has been widely documented (Veron et al 2006, Mainguet 1994, Williams and Balling 1996, Reynolds and Stafford 2002) that desertification has been and still taking its toll in the environment and by extension, human livelihoods of the arid and semi-arid regions of the world. In Nigeria, for example, Adetunji 2006, Baka and Jajere (2010 in Sawa and Adebayo 2015), Emodu 2013, Haruna and Bukar 2010, Olaganju and Temidayo 2015 and Nich (2012 in Umar 2015) have all posited that desertification is occurring especially in the semi-arid environment adjoining the Sahara desert in northern Nigeria Some of these researchers have made use of such statements as “desert is encroaching at the rate of 5.5km per annum (Lamprey 1975); desert is expanding at 6km per annum and 70% of all drylands is affected by desertification (UNEP 1992); desertification shows an increase from 48 to 117 hectares of lands from 1984 – 1991” and so on to describe the environmental condition in Nigeria. Desertification, Drought and Surface Vegetation: An Example from the West African Sahel, Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society 79, 815-829

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