Rainfall Dynamics and Trend in Central Nigeria for Thirty-Four Years (1986-2019)

A statistical study of rainfall dynamics and trend in central Nigeria for thirty-four (34) years (1986-2019) has been carried out. The data were obtained from the website of Nigerian Meteorological Agency., Abuja, Nigeria. We used the ET-SCI classification of rainfall rainy season. We found that total rainfall variability ranges between moderate variability in Gombe and high variability in Benin City. Variability in the frequency of rainfall during the period varies between zero variability in Jos and moderate variability at Benin City. In general, the variability in total and seasonal rainfall, and rainfall frequency appears to be dependent on latitude. Rainfall trend analysis shows that seasonal rainfall rises monotonically in all seasons except R99p season.

Keywords: rainfall; Mann-Kendall; drought; flooding; variability; trend; standardized precipitation index; regression; season