Changes in Diurnal Temperature Range Over Nigeria from 1960 to 2019

Abstract

Diurnal temperature range (DTR) is an important derived variable used in detecting signature of observed climate changes. Understanding its changes in  recent time is important for managing and coping with climate change induced risks. This study analysed the long term trend and abrupt changes in  diurnal temperature range over Nigeria from 1960 to 2019. Descriptive statistics, Mann-Kendall trend test, Sen’s slope and Pettit’s tests were used to  assess the characteristics, trend, abrupt change and significance in annual DTR time series. Pearson correlation was used to examine the spatial  relationship between DTR and minimum temperature, maximum temperature, precipitation and cloud cover. Results showed that mean DTR amount  varied across spatio-temporal scales with steady increase from the coastal region, coupled with a weak inter-annual variability (CV < 3%). The trend  analysis showed a significant decreasing DTR in most grid points (GP) and regions of Nigeria, with the exception of Enugu, Ado-Ekiti and Warri. Also a  significant negative trend was observed at the Guinea, Sudan and Sahel savanna regions. Abrupt changes occurred in the 1970s in the entire regions and  most of the GPs with Ado-Ekiti, Calabar, and Enugu occurred in 1991 while Maiduguri and Jos experienced such changes in 2011. Furthermore,  significant abrupt changes were observed at the following GPs and regions; Ikeja, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Sokoto, Yelwa, Yola, Guinea, Sudan and Sahel  Savannas. This decrease in DTR over most of the GP and the entire region indicate that the climate of Nigeria is becoming warmer possibly due to  environmental changes with precipitation and cloud cover being the major drivers of DTR variability in Nigeria. Thus, proper climate actions should be  taken through adaptation and resilient planning for the sustainable development of socio-economic and natural systems.