ANALYSIS OF URBAN AND RURAL CLIMATIC VARIATIONS: EXAMPLES FROM BENIN CITY AND NIFOR, EDO STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

This paper examined the trends and variations of some climatic parameters between rural and urban using data for 60 years (1952-2012) collected from the archives of the Nigerian Institute for Oil Palm Research (NIFOR) and Nigerian Meteorological Agency respectively. The annual trends of the climatic parameters were analyzed using regression while the variations of the climatic variables between rural (NIFOR) and urban (Benin City) settlements were analyzed using simple percentages and compared using t-test. The monthly values of each of the climatic parameters were computed for the period under investigation and this formed the basis for comparison. The results show that rainfall and number of rain-days is increasing in Benin City but decreasing in NiFoR. However, temperatures (minimum, maximum and mean) are observed to be on the rise in both Benin and NIFOR though a steeper rise is noticed Benin City. Minimum, maximum and mean temperatures varied between Benin and NIFOR at 0.84 ℃ (3.68%), 0.02 ℃ (0.06%) and 0.41 ℃C (1.51%) respectively while rainfall and rain-days varied between Benin and NIFOR at 267.68 mm (12.04%) and 9.58 (6.6%) respectively. With the exception of maximum temperature, the variation of the climatic parameters is significant at 0.05 confidence level. The paper recommends intensification of urban greenery and functional drainage system to enhance physiological comfort and reduce urban flooding respectively.

Keywords: Climate, rural, urban, trends, rainforest, Nigeria