TITLE:
Extreme Wind Characteristics of Coastal Communities in Bayelsa State: Implications for Community Planning and Development in Nigeria
AUTHORS:
Vincent Ezikornwor Weli, Jimmy O. Adegoke, Douye Pere-Ere Wodu
KEYWORDS:
Extreme Winds, Gale, Coastal Communities, Coastal Storms, Wind Hazards
JOURNAL NAME:
Atmospheric and Climate Sciences,
Vol.6 No.2,
March
28,
2016
ABSTRACT: The study examined extreme wind characteristics of
the coastal communities in Bayelsa State, Nigeria for possible community
planning and development. To achieve this aim, data on wind speed were sourced
from the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET). Personal interview and focused
group discussions were done with the aid of well structured questionnaire in
the various coastal communities sampled to identify impact and coping
strategies from extreme winds. The Beaufort Winds Scale and regression analysis
were the statistical tools used for the analysis of the data in order to
achieve the objectives of the study. The results indicate that, the return period to obtain maximum 1-year
wind speed value of 29.3 m/s (violent storm), 27.8 m/s (storm), 24.3 m/s
(strong Gale) and 20.6 m/s (fresh Gale) will be 17 years, 5.7 years, 2.8 years
and 1.4 years respectively. Fresh Gale
characterized the extreme wind events in the area. Result further showed that
out of 19 occurrences of wind events, 11 were extreme cases, while 2 occurred
as violent storm of 29.3 m/s. Findings also showed that extreme winds occurred
more (8 cases) during the early part (March-April) of the raining season when
the area is under the influence of maritime moisture laden air mass than the
dry season which is dried and dusty. Using a combination of return
period of the magnitude of extreme wind and the log of wind speed for the 16
years a model predicting the incidence of extreme wind was done. Awareness on the dangers of wind hazard increases
while early warning systems are advocated to mitigate the associated dangers
with extreme wind events in the study area.