Evaluation of Carbon Dioxide Emissions and Temperature Variation in Nigerian Cities

Abstract

The study assesses the effects of CO2 emissions on temperature in Nigeria. To actualize this, CO2 and temperature data were generated from field survey of Nigerian cities. Testo 350 flue gas analyzer was used to determine the CO2 in the urban atmospheric environment, while the Castro 4000 was used to obtain the temperature from same sites where the air samples for the CO2 were taken from. The data collected were presented with statistical diagram and the simple regression analysis was used to determine the effects of CO2 on the temperature of these cities. Paired t test was used to compare the mean of CO2 emissions and temperature in the built up areas and those of the surrounding rural areas. The results showed 31.5°C mean temperature and 37.88 MMT (Million Metric Tons) mean carbon emissions from 1987-2006 in Nigeria. There is 27% increase in CO2 emissions in the industrial and traffic congested areas than those of the natural parks and surrounding rural areas, and 7.3°C rise in temperature distribution in the industrial and traffic clogged areas than the natural parks and rural areas respectively, and thus showed that Nigerian cities are 28% warmer than their country sides. It also revealed that a rise in Nigeria temperature is significantly dependent on increase in CO2 emissions, as such CO2 emissions accounted for 96% occurrences of urban warming experienced in Nigeria cities. Based on this, the study recommends the adoption of carbon sequestration/carbon capture, green-city green roof approach, extinguish gas flaring, massive afforestation, and environmental impact assessment which will reduce the carbon emissions and lower the urban heat island experienced in Nigerian cities.