The changing rainfall pattern and its implication for flood frequency in Makurdi, Northern Nigeria

Abstract

The study deals with analysis of recent changes in the characteristics of extreme rainfall and their implication for flood frequency in Makurdi. Data on extreme daily rainfall, evapotranspiration and flood occurrences were collected for analysis. The annual rainfall was analysed for trends using spearman rank correlation coefficient, annual rainfall variability analysed using standardized rainfall anomaly index while recurrence intervals were analysed using Gumbell Extreme probability theory. The results of the analysis show among other things that there was a remarkable continuous downward trend in annual rainfall amounts; that the period between 1996 and 2001 witnessed the highest frequencies of extreme rainfall events and flood frequencies; that major floods were associated with high recurrence intervals, and that the seasonality of flooding in Makurdi occurs between May and October. @JASEM Increasing flood risk is now being recognized as the most important sectoral threat from climate change in most parts of the world. This has prompted public debate on the apparent increased frequency of extreme, and in particular, on perceived increases in rainfall intensities (Dyson, 2000). Several studies have adduced extreme rainfall to be the major cause of flood worldwide. Such studies includes Gobo

The Effects of Climate Change on Rainfall Pattern in Warri Metropolis, Nigeria

“…According to Ologunorisa, et al, [10] this technique is very effective and most commonly used for studying variability of regional climate change studies. Hence, it was employed to assess variability of rainfall in the study area.…”

Analysis of Rainfall Variations in the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria

“…Ologunorisa & Tersoo [9]conducted analysis of recent changes in the characteristics of extreme rainfall and their implication on flood frequency in Makurdi. They employed data on extreme daily rainfall, evapotranspiration and flood occurrences.…”

“…These green house gases are mostly encountered during oil exploration process, chief among these is gas flaring. Ologunorisa & Tersoo [9] argues in the same line that increasing flood risk is being recognized as the most imperative threat of climate change in most parts of the world.…”

Assessing Community Perception and Attitude towards Flooding in the Lower Benue River Basin, Nigeria

“…Flooding in the LBRB region has been attributed to river and flash flood events leading to river overflow [9] and rainfall intensity [10]. With a lot of communities located by the River Benue bank and the region supplying a huge quantity of food consumed in Nigeria, finding long-term solutions to the incessant flooding within the LBRB needs to be systematic and strategic.…”

“…With a lot of communities located by the River Benue bank and the region supplying a huge quantity of food consumed in Nigeria, finding long-term solutions to the incessant flooding within the LBRB needs to be systematic and strategic. Several studies have looked at the flooding situation in Nigeria [3,[7][8][9][10][11][12] but studies on flood perception, communication and adjustment in Nigeria have received very little attention and a great deal of insight can be derived from how people react to changes caused by flooding. Perception and attitude of people may reveal the urgency with which the problem needs to be tackled and which sectors are most vulnerable.…”