Assessment of Climate Variability Trends in Nasarawa State, Nigeria

Abstract

Changing global climate has emerged as one of the greatest environmental problems of mankind in the 21st century. However, there is still a dearth of information regarding the trends and patterns of climate variables at local and specific levels. It is against this background that this paper assessed climate variability trends in Nasarawa State, Nigeria over 21 years’ period (1997 – 2017). Daily data on climate variables for the State was obtained from the Nigerian Meteorological Agency and analysed using the linear trend function in Microsoft Excel. Pattern and course of the variables’ trend were determined using the trend/slope line and the trend equation. Out of the six investigated climatic parameters; maximum temperature, minimum temperature, total annual rainfall and dew points experienced the greatest fluctuation in Nasarawa State during the 21 years’ period (1997 – 2017). Also, while maximum and minimum temperature generally assumed an increasing trend, annual total rainfall and dew points alongside relative humidity and wind speed were generally decreasing. Policymakers in the various earth’s supporting systems such as agriculture, land and water, should employ the key findings of this study for advising some suitable adaptation and mitigation policies to cope with climate variability and change.