CLIMATE VARIABILITY IN SELECTED LOCATIONS OF SOUTHEASTERN NIGERIA: AN ANALYSIS OF RAINFALL TRENDS
This study examined the trends and patterns in the rainfall in selected locations of South Eastern Nigeria. Rainfall data (1983-2014) in Owerri, Umuahia, Onitsha, and Enugu were used for this study. Statistical techniques mainly, mean, standard deviation, coefficient of skewness, coefficient of kurtosis, coefficient of variation, and standardized anomaly index were employed to analyze the data and depict the distribution of rainfall in these stations. The data were analysed using the statistical package for social sciences, SPSS 17, and Minitab 16. The results revealed that the maximum annual rainfall occurred at Warri station (4489.80mm) in the year 2008 and the minimum occurred at Benin (229.10mm) in 2005. Also, Benin has the maximum coefficient of variation of about 26%, while Port Harcourt has the minimum coefficient of variation of about 12%. Warri and Umuahia station are positively skewed indicating that they experience frequent low rainfall values; while Portharcourt and Onitsha are approximately symmetrical skewed. Warri and Umuahia have kurtosis coefficient greater than 5. However, the patterns of rainfall in these areas are random or fluctuating. It is recommended that models built on the perceived decreasing rainfall, such as drainages, dams, have to be reviewed.
Keywords: Climate, Variability, Analysis, Rainfall, Trends, Nigeria
