TITLE:
Urban Warming in Benin City, Nigeria
AUTHORS:
S. I. Efe, O. A. Eyefia
KEYWORDS:
Urban Warming; Temperature; Anthropogenic Factor; Benin City
JOURNAL NAME:
Atmospheric and Climate Sciences,
Vol.4 No.2,
April
14,
2014
ABSTRACT:
The study
examined urban effects on the temperature of Benin City. The data used for this
study were generated from archives of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency Benin
City and the Agrometeorological Station of NIFOR, and mobile transverse method
of collecting temperature data at different land use types in the urban canopy
for one year. Paired t-test and analysis of variance were used to determine the
differences in temperature in the area. The findings revealed an urban bias of
4.4°C, and variation of 5.5°C in temperature
within the urban canopy, which confirmed the concept of urban heat island. It
also showed an urban-rural temperature differential of 0.5°C, which indicated an urban warming of 2% over its rural areas. Daily
temperature revealed that the working days are warmer than the weekends. High
rate of anthropogenic activities, which act as drivers of heat island in the
urban area accounted for the increase in temperature. The study therefore
recommends urban planning with green city-green roof approach.