Temperature Extremes over Selected Stations in Nigeria

Abstract

This research aims to determine the temperature extremes for Ikeja (Lagos), Osogbo (Osun) and Maiduguri (Borno), Nigeria, West Africa using Statistica analytical tool. Thirty (30) years daily maximum and minimum temperature data for Lagos, Osogbo and Maiduguri used for this study were collected from Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NIMET), Oshodi, Nigeria. Analysis of extreme temperature trend indicated that in Ikeja the percentage occurrence of warm days (TX90P) in which the maximum temperature is above 34°C (90th percentile value) is increasing and the percentage occurrence of cold days (TX10P) in which the maximum temperature  is below 28°C [10thpercentile value] is decreasing, in Osogbo the percentage occurrence of warm days (TX90P) in which the maximum temperature is above 35°C [90th percentile value) is increasing at a slower rate whereas the percentage occurrence of cold days (TX10P, number of days) in which the maximum temperature is below 27°C [10th percentile value] is constant while in Maiduguri the percentage occurrence of warm days (TX90P, number of days) in which the maximum temperature is above 41°C [90th percentile value] is constant whereas the percentage occurrence of cold days (TX10P, number of days) in which the maximum temperature is below 30°C [10th percentile value]  is slightly increasing. Percentage of warm days indicate constant value at around 13-15% during the three (3) decades under investigation across the study areas while day time cooling increases slightly by 2% in Ikeja, 1% in Osogbo and 3% in Maiduguri significant level and Cold night decrease at 1% in Ikeja and remain constant in Osogbo but decrease by 5% in Maiduguri significant level.