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Hot days and tropical nights in Nigeria: trends and associated large-scale features

Theoretical and Applied Climatology volume 137, pages 2077–2093 (2019)Cite this article

Abstract

The impact on society of extreme temperature events is enormous. This study examines the temporal evolution and trends in mean temperatures (minimum temperature, TN; and maximum temperature, TX) and warm extremes in Nigeria as well as in three regions in Nigeria (Guinea, Savanna, and Sahel) using homogenized daily TN and TX for the period 1971–2012. Warm extremes are defined as days with TX > 35 °C (HotD) and nights with TN > 20 °C (TropN). The modified Mann–Kendall test is used to calculate and assess the statistical significance of trends in the indices. The results at annual and seasonal (JFM, AMJ, JAS, and OND) timescales indicate a significant positive increase in temperatures in Nigeria. The warming in annual and seasonal TN is greater than in TX. The temporal evolution in warm extremes is similar to those of the mean temperatures, with trends in TropN greater than those of the HotD. In all the regions, the temporal patterns of trends in mean temperatures and warm extremes are similar. The indices are characterized by positive trends, with the exception of HotD in Guinea with no data during JAS. Analysis of large-scale atmospheric fields during warm extreme days when both TX and TN exceed their respective 90th percentile thresholds shows that warm extreme days are associated with mid-tropospheric subsidence motion in vertical velocity anomaly that is connected with the core of the thermal low and the net convergent flow. These features are accompanied by positive surface shortwave radiation anomaly coupled with cloud cover reduction.

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Notes

  1. Expert Team on Climate Change Detection and Indices.

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Acknowledgements

We appreciate the editor and the three reviewers for their comments and contributions. All thanks to God for His infinite mercy.

Funding

Abiodun is supported by the National Research Foundation (NRF, South Africa). This work is supported by US National Science Foundation through Earth System Modeling (EaSM) grant number AGS-1243030 and partly by the US Department of Energy through grant DE-SC0016438.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geological and Atmospheric Sciences, Iowa State University, 3134 Agronomy Hall, Ames, IA, 50011, USA

    Abayomi A. Abatan & William J. Gutowski Jr

  2. Climate System Analysis Group, Department of Environmental and Geographical Science, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa

    Babatunde J. Abiodun

  3. Department of Meteorology and Climate Science, Federal University of Technology Akure, Akure, Ondo, Nigeria

    Elijah A. Adefisan

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  1. Abayomi A. Abatan
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  2. Babatunde J. Abiodun
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  3. Elijah A. Adefisan
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  4. William J. Gutowski Jr
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Correspondence to Abayomi A. Abatan.

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Abatan, A.A., Abiodun, B.J., Adefisan, E.A. et al. Hot days and tropical nights in Nigeria: trends and associated large-scale features. Theor Appl Climatol 137, 2077–2093 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00704-018-2713-0

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Keywords

  • Hot days
  • Warm nights
  • Warm extreme days
  • Nigeria
  • Large-scale atmospheric fields