TEMPORAL VARIABILITY IN ATMOSPHERIC TEMPERATURE OF ILORIN, NIGERIA
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Date
2017-08
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DEPARTMENT OF GEOGRAPHY AND PLANNING SCIENCE, EKITI STATE UNIVERSITY, ADO EKITI, NIGERIA
Abstract
The Study examined the fluctuations and trend in atmospheric temperature and its possible effect on health of residents in Ilorin. Minimum, maximum and mean temperature data for 35 years obtained fromn Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NIMET) office located in Ilorin International Airport is used in the study. Reduction analysis aided in assessing percentage changes in temperature, Mann-Kendall test was used in explaining the temperature trends while Sen Model equations that can be used in predicting future minimum, maximum and mean atmospheric temperature in the study area were developed. Result obtained indicates negative percentage changes in both minimum and maximum temperature within the decades 1984 to 1993 and 1994 to 2003. However, within the decade 2004 to 2013, positive percentage changes were observed in both minimum and maximum temperature. Mann-Kendall statistics reveals that even though all the three variables under investigation (i.e. Minimum, maximum and mean temperature) exhibits positive trends, only the maximum and mean temperature were found to be significant when their Z values were tested at 95% significant level. This thus means that, the increasing trends in both maximum and mean temperature in the study area did not occur by chance, but results from causative factors. This result does not only reveal evidence of climate change in the study areas but also envision challenges in areas of human health and comfort.
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Keywords
Temporal, Variability, Temperature, Climate Change Deforestation