The Climate of Nigeria is mostly tropical. Nigeria has three distinct climatic zones,[1][2] two seasons and an average temperature, ranging between 21°C and 35°C.[3] Two major elements determines the temperature in Nigeria - the altitude of the Sun and the atmosphere's transparency determined by the duo interplay of rainfall and humidity,[4] while the rainfall is mediated by three distinct conditions including convectional, frontal and orographical determinants.[4] In a recent data showing Nigeria's annual temperature and rainfall variations by the World Bank Group, Nigeria's highest average annual mean-temperature is 28.1°C in 1938,[1] which indicates that 1938 is the driest year, while the wettest year is 1957 with an annual mean rainfall of 1,441.45mm.[1]
Climate of the country
editNigeria has three distinct climatic zones.[2] According to the Nigerian Meteorological Agency, it is mainly tropical. It can be categorized into three including the tropical monsoon climate in the southern part, and the tropical savannah climate and Sahelian hot and semi-arid climate in the northern parts of the country.[2] While temperature and rainfall plays key roles in the determination of the country's climate, rainfall has been opined to be the key element based on its relevance and implications for agriculture.[4]
Tropical monsoon climate Or Monsoon Climate(Am)
editTropical monsoon climate can be found in south southern part of Nigeria. This climate generally has an estimated average annual rainfall of 2000mm[2] which varies for both the coastal areas and the inland regions. During the dry season, regions with this climate have a monthly mean temperature ranging from 23 °C (73 °F) during nighttime to 31 °C (88 °F) at daytime.[2] Port Harcourt is an example.
Tropical savannah climate (Aw)
editThe tropical savannah climate is also called tropical wet and dry climate, as they tend to have both wet and dry seasons. It could be either a lengthy dry season and a relatively short wet season; or a lengthy wet season and a relatively short dry season. The tropical savannah climate has a mean annual rainfall of about 1200mm or below, while the monthly mean temperature ranges from 22 °C (72 °F) during nighttime to 33 °C (91 °F) at daytime.[2] Lagos state is an example of states with this type of climate. However, most central and southern parts also have this climate.
Sahelian hot (BWh) and semi-arid climates (BSh)
editThe Sahelian hot and semi-arid climates have average daytime temperatures of 35 °C (95 °F) and 21 °C (70 °F) at nighttime.[2] Regions experiencing this climate are majorly part of the Northern part of Nigeria and they experience very low annual mean rainfall below 700mm. Northern states like Kaduna, Jigawa and Sokoto are some examples.[5]
Seasons
editNigeria has two seasons in a year which are dry and wet season.
Dry season
editDuring the dry season, there are lesser rainfalls, more sun and lower humid. This period falls between October until April every year. It is normal to experience harmattan and dry spell during this period. The harmattan usually appears from December to January.[6] 1983 holds the record as the driest year Nigeria has ever seen since 1981.
Wet season
editThe wet season is also referred to as rainy season. It falls between April to September every year. 2019 holds the record as the wettest year Nigeria since 1981 has ever seen since 1981.[6]
Temperature
editThe average monthly temperature in Nigeria is between 24°C and 30°C.[7]
The highest temperatures are usually seen in the South between February and March, and in the North between March and May.[6] This period is referred to as the hot season which is typically periods when there is a consistent increase in daytime temperatures when compared to other periods of the year. In 2021, the annual mean temperature ranged from 28.4 °C (83.1 °F) in Jos to 36.2 °C (97.2 °F) over Nguru.[3] In 2020, Nigeria saw a slight increase with southern states recording a mean average temperature of 30°C - 32°C while northern states had a record of 34°C to 37°C. Nigeria recorded 2021 as one of the hottest seven in the Nigerian history.[6]
Climate change
editOver the years, Nigeria has slowly become prone to various hazards due to change in climate. With the southern and coastal places at a risk of flooding due to rising sea levels. Further, they are also threatened with waterborne disease and vulnerable to more. States in the northern part of the country are experiencing higher temperatures, lesser rainfalls and are threatened by droughts, famine, food scarcity and more that could lead to health issues which could be a threat to achieving sdg 3 (Good health and well being).[8]
Climate action
editNigeria joined the UN Environment's Climate and Clean Air Coalition in 2012 with the vision or reducing short-lived climate pollutants across ten high-impact sectors.
The Nigeria's Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) was made with a pledge to reduce GHG emissions by 45 percent conditionally by 2030 after Nigeria adopted the Paris Agreement under the President Buhari regime. Nigeria further passed the Climate Change Bill in November 2021. A bill which shows the country's commitment to a long term vision of a net zero target for 2050 to 2070.[9][8]
Extreme weather and hazards
editHeatwaves
editAccording to Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET), Nigeria With an annual mean temperature of 26.9 Celsius degree[10] have experienced heatwave with temperatures above 35 degrees Celsius and with high occurrence rates in the northern part of the country.[citation needed] The northern part is more vulnerable to heat waves due to the hot semi-arid climate. In 2019, Nigeria experienced a heatwave with northern states experiencing high occurrences as Minna had a temperature of 42.2 Celsius degree.[7] With 46.4 °C in 2010, Yola recorded the highest temperature in the list of countries and territories by extreme temperatures.
Floods
editDuring the wet season, it is usually to see rainfall which can cause flooding in some parts of the nation. In 2012, the country experienced its worst in 40 years with an estimated loss of N2.6 trillion. A total of 363 people were killed and over 2,100,000 displaced.[11][12]
The 2017 flooding that occurred during the rainy season in Benue state was another disaster that displaced a thousand people.[13] In 2021, 32 out of Nigeria's 36 states had cases of flooding according to National Emergency Management Agency with a report of 155 lives lost between August and October.[6]
Droughts
editNigeria was among the affected countries that suffered severe famine in the 2012 Sahel drought.[14]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c "World Bank Group: Climate Change Knowledge Portal For Development Practitioners and Policy Makers".
- ^ a b c d e f g "PUBLICATIONS AND BULLETINS - Nigerian Meteorological Agency". 2022-01-25. Retrieved 2023-03-23.
- ^ a b "PUBLICATIONS AND BULLETINS - Nigerian Meteorological Agency". 2022-01-25. Retrieved 2023-03-23.
- ^ a b c Miller, Ronald (1952). "THE CLIMATE OF NIGERIA". Geography. 37 (4): 198–213. ISSN 0016-7487.
- ^ "Physical geography : a landscape appreciation : McKnight, Tom L. (Tom Lee), 1928-2004 : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive". Internet Archive. 2022-01-14. Retrieved 2022-07-26.
- ^ a b c d e "State of the Climate – Nigerian Meteorological Agency". Nigerian Meteorological Agency. 2022-02-16. Retrieved 2022-07-28.
- ^ a b "Nigeria gripped by severe heatwave". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 2022-07-26.
- ^ a b "Nigeria Climate Change Country Profile". www.climatelinks.org. Retrieved 2022-07-28.
- ^ "Nigeria". climateactiontracker.org. Retrieved 2022-07-28.
- ^ "World Bank Climate Change Knowledge Portal". climateknowledgeportal.worldbank.org. Retrieved 2022-07-26.
- ^ "Nigeria floods kill 363 people, displace 2.1 mln -agency". Reuters. 2012-11-05. Retrieved 2022-07-26.
- ^ "2012 flood disaster cost Nigeria N2.6tn –NEMA". 2015-05-27. Archived from the original on 27 May 2015. Retrieved 2022-07-26.
- ^ "Nigeria floods displace more than 100,000 people". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 2022-07-26.
- ^ "UN relief coordinator warns over humanitarian crisis in Africa's drought-hit Sahel". UN News. 2012-05-24. Retrieved 2022-07-26.
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