Monthly and annual variation of some atmospheric parameters over Aliero, Kebbi State, Nigeria

Abstract

Temperature changes, relative humidity and changes in annual rainfall can exert a negative effect on the agricultural productivity and radio refractivity in the atmosphere. In this study, the variation of some atmospheric parameters over Aliero town (Latitude 12.306 0N, Longitude 4.492 0E) was examined. The measured data concerns averages of maximum air temperature, relative humidity and amount of rainfall for Aliero. The Data used was obtained from the Meteorological Station of the Kebbi State University of Science and Technology Aliero, for the period of 3 years (2014 – 2016). The analysis was done based on the monthly and annual variations of all the parameters for each year. The results from this study, reveals that the monthly observations of maximum rainfall in Aliero ranges from ~ 17 to 22 mm and the peak occurs in the month of July, and that of relative humidity (~98 to 99%) the peak occurs in the month of August. Atmospheric temperatures in Aliero were observed to be relatively high, with peak values of about 40 to 41°C recorded in the month of April in all the three years considered. While the variation in rainfall and relative humidity were observed to be simultaneous; Air temperature reduces with increase in the amount of rainfall and relative humidity. Averagely, higher amount of rainfall and temperature were recorded in 2016 and that of relative humidity occurred in 2015. These results are of great significance in; understanding the atmospheric condition of Aliero, which has direct impact in agricultural production, tropospheric radio wave propagation and relevant research purposes.