Analysis of rainfall trend and variability in Ebonyi state, South Eastern Nigeria

Analysis of rainfall trend and variability in Ebonyi state, South Eastern Nigeria

Bridget E. Diagi

Department of Geography and Environmental Management, University of Port Harcourt Port Harcourt, Nigeria

Corresponding Author Email: 
edeoli@yahoo.com
Page: 
53-57
|
DOI: 
10.18280/eesrj.050301
Received: 
18 July 2018
| |
Accepted: 
22 August 2018
| | Citation

OPEN ACCESS

Abstract: 

Rainfall pattern, trend and variability, are major indicators used in evaluating any investigation that relate to agriculture particularly because of the crucial role it plays in agricultural productivity. The purpose of this research is basically to examine the extent of variation in rainfall pattern of the study area. This is necessary because the study area is majorly an agrarian community where rainfall agriculture is mainly practiced. Rainfall totals for every month covering a period of 31 years were collected from the Nigeria meteorological agency of Nigeria and analysed for variation, fluctuation using mean, moving average, standard deviation, coefficient of variation and linear regression while Kruskal wallis H test was used in testing the hypothesis. Result indicated that there have been statistically significant increases in rainfall totals in the study area. Analysis indicates that rainfall possesses a positive trend and as such the area is getting wetter by 8.9318mm per annual.  In conclusion, agriculture can be improved upon towards creating more jobs for the youths in order to reduce unemployment, achieve food security and ultimately enhance agricultural sustainability. The implication of this increasing rainfall trend for farmers as well as the government is the opportunity to increase crop production and animal rearing since more rainfall can be gathered.

Keywords: 

rainfall, trend, variability, pattern, agriculture

1. Introduction
2. Description of Area
3. Materials and Methods
4. Results and Discussion
5. Conclusions and Recommendations
  References

[1]    Nwaobiala CU, Nwosu I. (2014). Effect of climate change on cassava farmers’ output in Cross River State. Nigeria. I nt’l Journal of Agric. and Rural Development 17(1): 1628-1634.

[2]    Chikezie C, Ibekwe UC, Ohajianya DO, Orebiyi JS, Henri-Ukoha A, Ukoha II, Osuji MN, Anthony, G. (2016). Climate change and perceived climate hazards: A trend analysis in Southeast Nigeria. International Journal of Weather, Climate Change and Conservation Research 2(1): 1-10.

[3]    Osang JE1, Ewona IO, Obi EO, Udoimuk AB, Kamgba FA. (2013). Analyses of radiation and rainfall pattern In Kano State Northern Nigeria (1978-2007). International Journal of Scientific & Engineering Research 4(9).

[4]    Udoimuk AB, Osang JE, Ettah EB, Ushie PO, Egor AO, Alozie SI. (2014). An empirical study of seasonal rainfall effect In Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria. Journal of Applied Physics (Iosr-Jap) E 5(5): 07-15.

[5]    Hulme M, Osborn TJ, Johns TC. (1998). Precipitation sensitivity to global warming: Comparison of Observations with HADCM2 Simulations. Geophysical Re-Search Letters 25: 3379-3382.

[6]    Kayano MT, Sansígolo C. (2008). Inter-annual to decadal variations of precipitation and daily maximum and daily minimum temperatures in Southern Brazil. Theoretical and Applied Climatology 97: 81-90. http//doi.org/ 10.1007/s00704-008-0050-4

[7]    IPCC. (2007). Climate Change 2007: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability: Contribution of Working Group II to the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK.

[8]    Afangideh AI, Okpiliya FE, Eja EI. (2010). A Preliminary investigation into the annual rainfall trend and patterns for selected towns in Parts of South-Eastern Nigeria. Journal of Sustainable Development 3(3): 275-282.

[9]    National Oceanic and Administration, NOAA. (2008). Glossary of Coastal Terminology. New York: Coastal Services Centre Publication.

[10] Egor AOA, Osang JEA, Uquetan UIC, Emeruwa CB, Agbor MED. (2015). Inter annual variability of rainfall in some states of Southern Nigeria. International journal of Scientific & Technology Research 4(10).

[11] Fidelis CO. (2015). Analysis of 30 years rainfall variability in Imo State of Southeastern, Nigeria. Hydrological Sciences and Water Security: Past, Present and Future (Proceedings of the 11th Kovacs Colloquium, Paris, France). IAHS Publ. 366.

[12]  Nwaiwu IUO, Ohajianya DO, Orebiy JS, Ibekwe UC, Lemchi JI, Onyeagoch, SUO, Odoemena B, Utazi CO, Osuagwu CO, Tasie CM. (2014). Climate change trend and appropriate mitigation and adaptation strategies in Southeast Nigeria. G.J.B.A.H.S. 3(1): 120-125 (January – March, Famine Early Warning Systems Network (2017). Retrieved from http://www.fews.net/global/alert/January-25-2017. accessed 29/6/2017

[14]  Zoellick Robert BA. (2009). Climate Smart future. The Nation Newspapers. Vintage press Limited, Lagos, Nigeria, 18.

[15]  Ahmad AB, Mustapha BM. (2018). Monthly rainfall prediction using artificial neural network: A case study of Kano, Nigeria Environmental and Earth Sciences Research Journal 5(2): 37-41. https://doi.org/10.18280/eesrj.050201

[16]  Onweremadu EU, Izuogu OP, Akamigbo FOR. (2011). Aggregation and a paedogenesis of seasonality inundated soil of the tropical watershed. Chiang Maij. Sci. 37(1): 74-84.

[17]  Ogbuene EB. (2010). Impact of meteorological parameters on rice yield: An approach for environmental resource sustainability in Ebonyi rice farmland. Journal of environmental issues and agriculture in developing countries 2(2-3).

[18]  Okoye BC, Onyenweaku CE, Ukoha OO. (2010). An ordered probit analysis of transaction cost and market participation by small – holder cassava farmers in Southeastern Nigeria. Nigeria Agricultural Journal 41(2).

[19]  Sarker MAR. (2012). Impact of climate change on rice production and farmers’ adaptation in Bangladesh. Ph.D. Thesis, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, Australia.

[20]  Waller DL. (2008). Statistics for Business, Butterworth- Heinemann, Amsterdam.