TITLE:
Urban Effects on the Precipitation of Benin, Nigeria
AUTHORS:
S. I. Efe, A. O. Eyefia
KEYWORDS:
Precipitation; Urban Area; Rural Areas; Benin City
JOURNAL NAME:
American Journal of Climate Change,
Vol.3 No.1,
March
11,
2014
ABSTRACT:
This study is designed to examine the urban effects on the precipitation
of Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria. This was to ascertain the differences within
urban precipitation and urban-rural differences in precipitation. The study
adopted a survey design in which data used for this study were generated from
direct field measurement of precipitation for the period of one year. A total
of 25 rain gauges were established in the various landuse types in existence in
the city in line with the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) standard for
the collection of the precipitation amounts. Thirty-one years’ archival
precipitation data were also extracted from the archive of the Nigerian
Meteorological Agency Benin and Nigeria Institute of Oil Palm Research (NIFOR).
Analysis of variance (ANOVA), paired t-test and trend analysis were used in
this study. The result showed 2541 mm mean annual precipitation with 43%
increase in precipitation in urban area over the country sides. Precipitation
amounts differ significantly within the urban canopy from the high density
areas to the natural parks. Rainfall in all months with double precipitation
maxima is in the months of July and September, indicating the presence of August
hiatus in the city, and it also showed that Fridays and Sundays are the wettest
and driest days of the weeks. The study revealed that the precipitation of
Benin-City is strong and heavy with 2311 mm and 2541 mm which has strong
implications on hydrological cycle, properties and social-economic activities
of the dwellers. It is therefore recommended that program on urban climatology
should be initiated soon by the state and federal government of Nigeria.