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Climate of Nigeria

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A map snowing the various Köppen climate classification zones of Nigeria. There are five colors defining the distinct zones.
Nigeria map of Köppen climate classification

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.[2] Two major elements determine the temperature in Nigeria: the altitude of the sun and the atmosphere's transparency (as determined by the dual interplay of rainfall and humidity).[2] Its rainfall is mediated by three distinct conditions including convectional, frontal, and orographical determinants.[2] Statistics from the World Bank Group showed Nigeria's annual temperature and rainfall variations, the nation's highest average annual mean temperature was 28.1 °C in 1938,[1] while its wettest year was 1957 with an annual mean rainfall of 1,441.45mm.[1]

The climate has a significant impact on the country's agriculture, economy, and society. The rainy season is the most important time for agriculture, as it is the time when most crops are planted and harvested.[3][4] The dry season is a time of drought, which can lead to water shortages and crop failures.[5] The high temperatures and humidity can also be uncomfortable and can lead to health problems.[6] Nigeria's climate is influenced by its geographical location, topography, and the interactions of various air masses.[7] Nigeria is situated in West Africa, between latitudes 4°N and 14°N, and longitudes 2°E and 14°E.[8] It experiences a tropical climate characterized by distinct wet and dry seasons.[9]

Climate of the country

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Further information: Köppen climate classification
Deforestation Site in Opi Nsukka, Enugu State
Opi Environment

Nigeria 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, 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.[10]

Tropical monsoon climate (Am)

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a bird in a monsoon
tropical monsoon

Tropical monsoon climate can be found in south southern part of the nation. 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, Delta and Bayelsa are examples of regions experiencing Tropical monsoon. The Am climate is found in the northern regions of Nigeria.[11] It is characterized by a shorter wet season and a longer dry season compared to the Aw climate. The average annual rainfall ranges from 600 to 1,200 mm.[12] The wet season usually lasts from May to September, while the dry season extends from October to April.[13]

Tropical savannah climate (Aw)

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Top End of a tropical savannah
Tropical savanna

The tropical savannah climate is also called tropical wet and dry climate, as they tend to have both wet and dry seasons.[14] 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 a state with this type of climate. However, most central and southern parts of the nation also have this climate.

Sahelian hot (BWh) and semiarid climates (BSh)

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The Sahelian hot and semiarid 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 examples.[15]

Seasons

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Nigeria has two seasons in a year: dry and wet.

Dry season

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the Niger river bed in Dry season
Niger river bed in dry season

The dry season is accompanied by the dusty northeast winds where midday temperatures that can sometimes reach 100F (38C). During the dry season, there are lesser rainfalls, more sun and lower humidity. This period falls between October and April every year. It is normal to experience harmattan and dry spells during this period. The harmattan usually appears from December to January.[16] 1983 holds the record as the driest year Nigeria has ever seen since 1981.[17]

Wet season

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Image of people wading through flooded express way in Lagos.
flood caused by heavy rain in Lagos Express way.

The wet season is also referred to as rainy season. It falls between April and September every year. The wet season is particularly noticeable on the southeastern coast, where annual rainfall reaches about 130 inches (330 cm), where temperatures rarely exceed 90F (32C). 2019 holds the record as the wettest year Nigeria has ever seen since 1981.[16][17]

Temperature

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image of sun radiation on a city
Temperature rise as sun radiates on a city

Nigeria experiences high temperatures throughout the year, influenced by its location near the equator. The average annual temperature ranges from 25 °C to 32 °C, with regional variations based on factors such as elevation and proximity to water bodies.[18]

The average monthly temperature in Nigeria is between 24°C and 30 °C.[19]

The highest temperatures are usually seen between February and April during the dry season and are called the hot season. It falls between February and March ranging from 39.5 to 39.9 °C (103.1 to 103.8 °F) in the south, and March to May ranging from 42.9 °C to 44.5 °C in the north. In 2021, this period lasted until May.

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 the year with the highest temperature in 40 years.[16]

Climate change

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Main article: Climate change in Nigeria

Over 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 drought, famine, and food scarcity.[20]

Climate action

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Nigeria joined the UN Environment's Climate and Clean Air Coalition in 2012 with the vision of reducing short-lived climate pollutants across ten high-impact sectors.

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.[21][20]

Extreme weather and hazards

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Heatwaves

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Image illustrating heat wave
Heat wave
image of a woman pouring water on her head under hot sun.
A woman pouring water on her head to reduce high body temperature.

According to Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET), Nigeria, with an annual mean temperature of 26.9 °C[22] has experienced heatwave with temperatures above 35 °C and with high occurrence rates in the northern part of the country.[23] 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 °C.[19] With 46.4 °C in 2010, the Nigerian city Yola had the highest recorded temperature in the list of countries and territories affected by extreme temperatures.

Floods

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See also: 2012 Nigeria floods, 2017 Benue State flooding, and 2022 Nigeria floods

During the wet season, it is not unusual to experience rainfalls that 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.[24][25]

Houses submerged in Makurdi, Nigeria due to the flooding

The 2017 flooding that occurred during the rainy season in Benue state was another disaster that displaced a thousand people.[26] In 2021, 32 out of Nigeria's 36 states had cases of flooding according to the National Emergency Management Agency, reporting 155 lives lost between August and October.[16]

[27]

Droughts

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Nigeria was also among the affected countries that suffered severe famine in the 2012 Sahel drought.[28]

Prolonged drought in Nigeria has led to desertification and land scarcity for farming and livestock. This forces farmers and herders to migrate to new areas, often resulting in violent conflicts, with over 2,000 casualties in 2018. Despite these challenges, some Plateau State residents are reluctant to leave, rebuilding their communities after destruction. Satellite images from NASA reveal severe desertification, affecting about 900,000 km2 of savanna grassland between the 1960s and 1986.

Drought is a recurring issue in Nigeria, particularly in the arid north, with historical famines documented in various years. A recent survey by SBMIntel found that 79% of Nigerian farmers were impacted by drought and flooding in 2020, with 26.3% experiencing significant harvest disruptions. This poses a threat to national food security.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c "World Bank Group: Climate Change Knowledge Portal For Development Practitioners and Policy Makers".
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "PUBLICATIONS AND BULLETINS - Nigerian Meteorological Agency". 25 January 2022. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
  3. ^ Dalrymple, Dana G. (December 1985). "The Development and Adoption of High‐Yielding Varieties of Wheat and Rice in Developing Countries". American Journal of Agricultural Economics. 67 (5): 1067–1073. doi:10.2307/1241374. ISSN 0002-9092. JSTOR 1241374. S2CID 154818278.
  4. ^ Andrews, D. J. (April 1972). "Intercropping with Sorghum in Nigeria". Experimental Agriculture. 8 (2): 139–150. doi:10.1017/s001447970000510x. ISSN 0014-4797. S2CID 86113578.
  5. ^ Rockström, Johan; Barron, Jennie (25 January 2007). "Water productivity in rainfed systems: overview of challenges and analysis of opportunities in water scarcity prone savannahs". Irrigation Science. 25 (3): 299–311. doi:10.1007/s00271-007-0062-3. ISSN 0342-7188. S2CID 27135843.
  6. ^ Bell, Paul A. (January 1981). "Physiological, Comfort, Performance, and Social Effects of Heat Stress". Journal of Social Issues. 37 (1): 71–94. doi:10.1111/j.1540-4560.1981.tb01058.x. ISSN 0022-4537.
  7. ^ Tukur, Abubakar; Nabegu, Aliyu; Abba Umar, Da’u; Olofin, Emmanuel; Sulaiman, Wan (9 February 2018). "Groundwater Condition and Management in Kano Region, Northwestern Nigeria". Hydrology. 5 (1): 16. doi:10.3390/hydrology5010016. ISSN 2306-5338.
  8. ^ Anuforom, Anthony C. (December 2007). "Spatial distribution and temporal variability of Harmattan dust haze in sub-Sahel West Africa". Atmospheric Environment. 41 (39): 9079–9090. doi:10.1016/j.atmosenv.2007.08.003. ISSN 1352-2310.
  9. ^ "Creative margins: three women in post-war French landscape architecture", Women, Modernity, and Landscape Architecture, Routledge, pp. 129–147, 11 February 2015, doi:10.4324/9781315732961-11, ISBN 978-1-315-73296-1, retrieved 6 June 2023
  10. ^ Miller, Ronald (1952). "The Climate of Nigeria". Geography. 37 (4): 198–213. ISSN 0016-7487. JSTOR 40564888.
  11. ^ Udo, Reuben K. (31 December 1970). Geographical Regions of Nigeria. doi:10.1525/9780520327108. ISBN 9780520327108.
  12. ^ Nicholson, Sharon E.; Davenport, Michael L.; Malo, Ada R. (December 1990). "A comparison of the vegetation response to rainfall in the Sahel and East Africa, using normalized difference vegetation index from NOAA AVHRR". Climatic Change. 17 (2–3): 209–241. doi:10.1007/bf00138369. ISSN 0165-0009. S2CID 154704388.
  13. ^ Frankie, Gordon W.; Baker, Herbert G.; Opler, Paul A. (November 1974). "Comparative Phenological Studies of Trees in Tropical Wet and Dry Forests in the Lowlands of Costa Rica". The Journal of Ecology. 62 (3): 881. doi:10.2307/2258961. ISSN 0022-0477. JSTOR 2258961.
  14. ^ Williams, R. J.; Myers, B. A.; Muller, W. J.; Duff, G. A.; Eamus, D. (December 1997). "Leaf Phenology of Woody Species in a North Australian Tropical Savanna". Ecology. 78 (8): 2542–2558. doi:10.1890/0012-9658(1997)078[2542:lpowsi]2.0.co;2. ISSN 0012-9658.
  15. ^ "Physical geography : a landscape appreciation : McKnight, Tom L. (Tom Lee), 1928-2004 : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive". Internet Archive. 14 January 2022. Retrieved 26 July 2022.
  16. ^ a b c d "State of the Climate – Nigerian Meteorological Agency". Nigerian Meteorological Agency. 16 February 2022. Retrieved 28 July 2022.
  17. ^ a b "The Climate in Nigeria". www.studycountry.com. Retrieved 3 March 2023.
  18. ^ Benali, A.; Carvalho, A.C.; Nunes, J.P.; Carvalhais, N.; Santos, A. (September 2012). "Estimating air surface temperature in Portugal using MODIS LST data". Remote Sensing of Environment. 124: 108–121. doi:10.1016/j.rse.2012.04.024. ISSN 0034-4257.
  19. ^ a b "Nigeria gripped by severe heatwave". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 26 July 2022.
  20. ^ a b "Nigeria Climate Change Country Profile". www.climatelinks.org. Archived from the original on 12 October 2022. Retrieved 28 July 2022.
  21. ^ "Nigeria". climateactiontracker.org. Retrieved 28 July 2022.
  22. ^ "World Bank Climate Change Knowledge Portal". climateknowledgeportal.worldbank.org. Retrieved 26 July 2022.
  23. ^ "NiMet warns of heat wave as temperatures rise - Daily Trust". dailytrust.com. Retrieved 23 September 2023.
  24. ^ "Nigeria floods kill 363 people, displace 2.1 mln -agency". Reuters. 5 November 2012. Retrieved 26 July 2022.
  25. ^ "2012 flood disaster cost Nigeria N2.6tn –NEMA". 27 May 2015. Archived from the original on 27 May 2015. Retrieved 26 July 2022.
  26. ^ "Nigeria floods displace more than 100,000 people". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 26 July 2022.
  27. ^ "Nigeria: Floods - Jun 2022 | ReliefWeb". reliefweb.int. Retrieved 3 March 2023.
  28. ^ "UN relief coordinator warns over humanitarian crisis in Africa's drought-hit Sahel". UN News. 24 May 2012. Retrieved 26 July 2022.
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