Rising Temperature: Evidence of Global Warming in Northern Nigeria

Abstract

Climate change phenomenon is recognized worldwide as serious environmental problem; the risk it poses to all sectors of the economy justifies the considerable attention given to the issue. Trend detection although is not a new exercise is gaining more prominence as tool for analyzing evidence of climate change. The current study used temperature record from 1970-2012 for 11 States of northern Nigeria to detect trend and quantify the magnitude of temperature change in the region, using the Mann-Kendall test and Sen Slope estimator. Findings of the study showed that over the period of forty two years significant (p< 0.01) and positive increase in temperature was recorded in the region. Findings of the study led to the conclusion that there was evidence of global warming in the area and the implication for the study was the need for an urgent mitigation and adaptation measures to reduce the negative impact of global warming.

Keywords: Temperature; increase; evidence; global warming; northern Nigeria