Rainfall Variability and Trend Analysis Over Nguru Yobe State, Nigeria

Yusuf Dawa Sidi

Desert Research Monitoring and Control Center, Yobe State University, Damaturu, Nigeria.

*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.


Abstract

Aims: This study aimed to analyze rainfall variation in a semi-arid environment by examining the annual precipitation over Nguru in Yobe, Nigeria for a period of 31 years (1975-2005).

Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted in Nguru town, an arid environment in Yobe State of Nigeria using rainfall data from Nguru meteorological station from 1975-2005.

Methods: Coefficient of variability (CV) was used to evaluate rainfall variability over time in the area, and non-parametric Mann-Kendall and Sen’s slope estimator were used to determine rainfall trend and its magnitude in the study area. The investigation was based on data collected over a 31-year period at a single site.

Results: The result indicates that the coefficient of variation CV for the annual rainfall in Nguru revealed a moderate inter annual variability (25%), whereas the CV for seasonal rainfall demonstrates that rainfall in the May June July monsoon period is highly variable between seasons (more than 40%). The CV for the August September October monsoon period, on the other hand, was 31.6%, indicating a considerable and high variability in total rainfall received.

Conclusion: The main conclusion of this study is that rainfall is highly variable over the years, posing a threat to climate change-induced drought and, as a result, affecting the socio-economic well-being of the people in the area, who are mostly peasant farmers who rely solely on agricultural activities for their livelihood.

Keywords: Rainfall trend, mann kendall test, sen’s slope, coefficient of variability


How to Cite

Sidi, Yusuf Dawa. 2022. “Rainfall Variability and Trend Analysis Over Nguru Yobe State, Nigeria”. International Journal of Environment and Climate Change 12 (10):6-15. https://doi.org/10.9734/ijecc/2022/v12i1030768.