CLIMATE CHANGE & 2019 WEATHER FORECAST
BY OLAGUNJU OLALESI PRESS OFFICER, EKITI STATE MINISTRY OF
ENVIRONMENT
Climate change, as a general phenomenon, is real and caused by man.
It affects all human being and living things on a daily basis. Climate
Change covers every sphere of human lives such as businesses;
agriculture; health; environment; constructions; transportation;
defense; land surface; atmosphere; ocean; and other spheres of life
that are too numerous to be listed.
The impact of climate change cannot be over – emphasized, particularly
in this 21st Century. It determines the two major seasons witnessed
throughout the year, that is the rainy and the dry seasons.
Climate change is caused by both natural and artificial factors. The
natural factors include fractional change in solar radiation, volcanic
eruption and natural fluctuation in the climate system itself, while
artificial factors include energy consumption, especially, the use of
fossil fuel, de-forestation which is caused consequent upon
indiscriminate tree felling without necessary replacement; bush
burning; and bush clearing for agricultural purposes, centuries of
uncontrolled exploitation of nature, the frightening increase in
population, especially within the urban areas, and emission of
greenhouse gases, amongst others.
It is also expedient to mention that climate change has great impact
on the environment. It reflects in high temperature, which results in
extreme heat that affects the health condition of the people.
Considering the seasonal change, this borders on irregularity in
the onset and cessation periods which affects the rainfall pattern
that eventually hampers farming activities or planting periods.
Another effect of climate change is erosion which greatly reduces
soil fertility and leads to excessive turn-off into various water
resources which causes both surface and ground water pollution and
soil degradation resulting from climate change that turns the land
mass into barren land.
Flooding remains another effect of climate change which destroys
lives and properties especially in urban cities.
Rainstorm, which occurs during heavy downpour, is also as a result
of climate change. Rainstorm is usually accompanied with very strong
wind that blows away roof tops of houses and destroys electric
poles.
Consequent upon the above, the Climate Change unit, which is under the
Ministry of Environment and working in collaboration with the Nigerian
Meteorological Agency (NIMEA) in Abuja is saddled with the
responsibility of disseminating useful information regarding weather
and climate to the general public. The Ministry also makes forecasts
on weather on a daily, weekly, monthly and yearly basis. This updates
the people on weather situation from time to time.
According to this year’s seasonal rainfall prediction released by the
Nigerian Meteorological Agency in January this year, the expected
shorter than normal length of season might likely occur this year and
all stakeholders in environmental matters are expected to work with
this prediction. In the prediction, the months of February and March
are expected to be warmer than normal which would result into high
temperature that may cause severe heat and the resultant consequence
of this is cerebrospinal meningitis. This may likely occur,
particularly in some States in the Northern part of Nigeria.
The Agency, which predicted that Ado – Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital
would have stable rainfall between April 12 and November 23 and with
rainy days of 226 and annual water volume of 1319mm also predicted
that Ikere – Ekiti will have its constant rainfall between April 11
and November 14 with rainy days and water volume of 1358mm as.
Other Local Government areas across the State would have their
different rainfall stability periods. Ekiti East, for instance will
have its stable rainfall between April 14 and November 22 with rainy
days of 225 and 1301mm water volume.
Efon and Ekiti South West These two areas will both experience their
stable rainfall between April 13 and November 23 and April 11 and
November 24 respectively. The two Local Government areas will
experience their rainy days of 223 and 227 and 1274 and 1343mm water
volume respectively.
Ekiti West, Emure and Gbonyin Local Government areas will have stable
rainfall commencing from April 13 – November 22; April 10 – November
24; and April 12 -November 23, 2019 respectively. The three Local
Government areas will have their rainy days of 224, 229 and 226 and
1294, 1372, and 1316mm water volumes respectively.
In Ido/Osi area, stable rainfall will come between April 16 and
November 21 with rainy days of 220 and 1236mm water volume.
Ijero will have stable rainfall between April 15 and November 21 and
with both rainy days of 221 and 1353mm water volume.
In Ikole, Ilejemeje and Irepodun/Ifelodun Local Government areas,
stable rainfall will come up between from April 16 and November 21;
April 16; and April 13 and November 22, 2019 with rainy days 220, 219,
and 224 days respectively.
The three Local Government areas are expected to have 1232, 1214, and
1290mm water volumes respectively.
While Ise/Orun will have stable rainfall between April 10 and November
24 with 229 rainy days and 1372mm water volume, Moba Local
Government would experience its stable rainfall beginning between
April 17 and November 20 this year with rainy days of 218 and 1203mm
water volume.
Oye will have its own stable rainfall between April 16 and November
20, and with rainy days 220 and 1237mm water volume respectively.
The Agency, however enjoined the general public to take cognizance of
the prediction.
