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Spatial and temporal temperature trends in Nigeria, 1901–2000

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Abstract

Trends and periodicity analyses can provide information on climate variability inherent in a particular variable. In this study, trend tests and spectral analysis are used to examine the existence of trends and cycles in temperature series (1901–2000) of Nigeria. Periods 1901–1929 and 1942–1980 exhibited cooling trends while 1930–1941 and 1981–2000 showed warming trends. The warmest years in Nigeria were 1941, 1935, 1931 and 1987. The coldest years were 1929, 1975, 1925 and 1974. Whereas no significant trends were detected for 1901–1930 period, the standard period 1931–1960 was marked by significant cooling while 1961–1990 was marked with significant warming. Annual temperature has risen by 0.03 °C/decade during the last century. The overall warming was mostly confined to the south of 12°N especially during April and June. Changes in minimum temperature are higher than that of maximum temperature. The quasi-biennial oscillation was found in annual data for all the six zones with periods of about 2–4 years. Nigeria landscape is under strong North Atlantic Oscillation influence in dry season and under ENSO influence during wet season. Annual temperature series was also found to exhibit significant negative correlation with SOI.

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Acknowledgments

The first author gratefully acknowledges the support of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, Bonn, Germany. The second author was partly supported by National Research Foundation (NRF, South Africa) and the International Science Program (ISP, Sweden).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Landscape Hydrology, Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF), 15374, Müncheberg, Germany

    Philip G. Oguntunde & Gunnar Lischeid

  2. Department of Environmental and Geographical Science, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa

    Babatunde J. Abiodun

  3. Department of Agricultural Engineering, The Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria

    Philip G. Oguntunde

Authors
  1. Philip G. Oguntunde
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  2. Babatunde J. Abiodun
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  3. Gunnar Lischeid
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Correspondence to Philip G. Oguntunde.

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Responsible editor: B. Ahrens.

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Oguntunde, P.G., Abiodun, B.J. & Lischeid, G. Spatial and temporal temperature trends in Nigeria, 1901–2000. Meteorol Atmos Phys 118, 95–105 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00703-012-0199-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00703-012-0199-3

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