PROBLEMS OF LOWER BENUE RIVER BASIN AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT UNDER INCREASED EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE IN NIGERIA

Date

2014-01-06

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Department of Geography, Nasarawa State State University Keffi

Abstract

Problems of ecological disaster whether natural or man-induced have been on the increase in Nigeria exacerbated by Climate Change may pose major threat to the Nigerian economy by the year 2020. The objective of this study is to collect, explain and analyze some Hydrometeorological data using conventional statistical methods and derived parameters. The results revealed that annual rainfall curve for Makurdi indicates two periods of increased rainfall and followed by two periods of marked decrease lasting till 2005. In between these periods, the patterns of rainfall are oscillatory. Mean annual areal volume of Actual evapotranspiration is 23, 262.4 x 1 (f ni. Soil moisture deficit is from December to April in Wase basin. The mean annual soil moisture deficit is 312mm, with the annual areal volume of 20, 295.2 x Kf m3. Of the crops grown in the three sub­ catchment basins, those in southern portion of Katsina-Ala and Wase River Basins are likely to perform better on rain fed agriculture. Organized urbanization has compounded the problems of flooding and erosion in the Lower Benue River Basin — this problem has greatly altered the soil cover from one of woodland savannah in the rural environment to that of open surfaces, build-up slopes and valleys and general over-exposure of the city center to greater surface flow. The study recommends application of rainfall effectiveness indices and hydrological parameters in various problem areas of the Lower Benue River Basin

Description

Keywords

Lower Benue River Basin, Climatic variability, Water balance, agricultural planning, flood and erosion.

Citation

Abubakar, M. & Adamu, Y.M. (2014). PROBLEMS OF LOWER BENUE RIVER BASIN AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT UNDER INCREASED EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE IN NIGERIA

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