8 Cumulative Impacts of Climate Change Variability …
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their discharges over the duration under study. Moreover, the stations, i.e. Sokoto
New Airport and the Katsina and Gusau aerodromes, were selected for the analysis of
temperature and precipitation and have also shown the impacts of climate variability.
4.1 Trend in Climate Variability Analysis
The intensity, frequency and seasonal distribution of rainfall have particular impact
on the amount of water available for various uses in the study area. The dry season,
from early November until March, has no trace of rainfall at all. The mean monthly
rainfall for the study area is depicted in Fig. 2, with the historical data in Fig. 2. This
shows a reduced rainfall of 1.2% in the period 1949–1976 compared to 1976–2008.
In addition, the historical trend shown in Fig. 3 at Katsina and Gusau aerodromes
also shows an increase in annual rainfall in 1936 and 1965, reaching a maximum of
1,025 mm and 1039.4 mm, respectively, an increase of 1.4%. The average annual
rainfall in Sokoto from the end of the 1970s through the 1980s was 632 mm, a
decreasing trend, with the lowest recorded year at 325 mm in 1987.
The mean monthly maximum temperature of the study area is between 30.6 and
36.5 °C, with the hottest period in the months of March and April. The highest
mean monthly temperature is observed in April with 36.5 °C, while the lowest mean
monthly temperature is in December with 14.7 °C. Seasonal and latitudinal variations
affect the extremes and the diurnal and seasonal ranges of the temperature in all areas.
In addition, the daily minimum temperature by monthly average is lowest in August
at 30.5 °C. From Fig. 4, it is evident that there was a significant rise in temperature
at Sokoto New Airport between 1989 and 2009. A decrease of 1.8% was observed
between the periods 1949–1976 and 1976–2008 (see Fig. 5).
4.2 Cumulative Effect on Water Supply
The communities of Goronyo that consist mostly of farmers depend largely on dam
water for domestic purposes, especially during the dry season. The importance of
dam management is most evident during times of drought. The 2017 drought in the
Goronyo dam affected the lives and livelihoods of almost two million people as a
result of the shortage of water. Levels in the Goronyo dam basin, which provides water
for farmers, fishermen and families, have dropped dramatically in the 2017/2018 to
about 10% of its capacity, forcing authorities to ration water to homes and seek
alternative water sources (Plate 6).
The impacts of climate change are being felt by both developed and developing
countries. To the extent that they are felt more by developing countries, it is not
necessarily because they are the highest contributors of climate variation, but rather
because these countries lack economic, social and political infrastructures to respond
adequately to the effects of climate change. The Sokoto state of Northern Nigeria,
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their discharges over the duration under study. Moreover, the stations, i.e. Sokoto
New Airport and the Katsina and Gusau aerodromes, were selected for the analysis of
temperature and precipitation and have also shown the impacts of climate variability.
4.1 Trend in Climate Variability Analysis
The intensity, frequency and seasonal distribution of rainfall have particular impact
on the amount of water available for various uses in the study area. The dry season,
from early November until March, has no trace of rainfall at all. The mean monthly
rainfall for the study area is depicted in Fig. 2, with the historical data in Fig. 2. This
shows a reduced rainfall of 1.2% in the period 1949–1976 compared to 1976–2008.
In addition, the historical trend shown in Fig. 3 at Katsina and Gusau aerodromes
also shows an increase in annual rainfall in 1936 and 1965, reaching a maximum of
1,025 mm and 1039.4 mm, respectively, an increase of 1.4%. The average annual
rainfall in Sokoto from the end of the 1970s through the 1980s was 632 mm, a
decreasing trend, with the lowest recorded year at 325 mm in 1987.
The mean monthly maximum temperature of the study area is between 30.6 and
36.5 °C, with the hottest period in the months of March and April. The highest
mean monthly temperature is observed in April with 36.5 °C, while the lowest mean
monthly temperature is in December with 14.7 °C. Seasonal and latitudinal variations
affect the extremes and the diurnal and seasonal ranges of the temperature in all areas.
In addition, the daily minimum temperature by monthly average is lowest in August
at 30.5 °C. From Fig. 4, it is evident that there was a significant rise in temperature
at Sokoto New Airport between 1989 and 2009. A decrease of 1.8% was observed
between the periods 1949–1976 and 1976–2008 (see Fig. 5).
4.2 Cumulative Effect on Water Supply
The communities of Goronyo that consist mostly of farmers depend largely on dam
water for domestic purposes, especially during the dry season. The importance of
dam management is most evident during times of drought. The 2017 drought in the
Goronyo dam affected the lives and livelihoods of almost two million people as a
result of the shortage of water. Levels in the Goronyo dam basin, which provides water
for farmers, fishermen and families, have dropped dramatically in the 2017/2018 to
about 10% of its capacity, forcing authorities to ration water to homes and seek
alternative water sources (Plate 6).
The impacts of climate change are being felt by both developed and developing
countries. To the extent that they are felt more by developing countries, it is not
necessarily because they are the highest contributors of climate variation, but rather
because these countries lack economic, social and political infrastructures to respond
adequately to the effects of climate change. The Sokoto state of Northern Nigeria,