INVESTIGATION OF CLIMATE VARIABILITY AND TRENDS IN AKWA IBOM STATE

The study was conducted on climate variability in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State. The study aimed at analyzing the seasonal variability, annual trend and inter-annual variability of selected climatic element namely rainfall, temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, sunshine, evaporation and solar radiation in the study area. Data for the study were collated from weather station in University of Uyo, Uyo and analysed using descriptive statistics for means, standard deviation and coefficient of variability. Trend analysis was also fitted using the least square method while standard variability index was applied to examine the inter- annual variability in respective climatic element in the study area. Results showed that the highest rainfall month in terms of rainfall amount in Uyo is June and September. The least variability in rainfall was obtained in November with CV of 25.62 % while the highest variability was obtained in January with CV of 134.44 %. The standard deviation (Sd) values for all the months were > 1 indicating high degree of variability of monthly rainfall from one year to another. The least variability in temperature was obtained in April with CV of 2.87 % while the highest variability was obtained in February with CV of 4.99 %. The least variability in relative humidity was obtained in June with CV of 2.29 % while the highest variability was obtained in January with CV of 14.64 %. The least variability in wind speed was obtained in April with CV of 14.37 % while the highest variability was obtained in May with CV of 24.22 %. The annual trend of rainfall shows increased trend at annual rate of 35.03 with R2 of 44.25%. Similarly, there is a decreasing trend in mean annual temperature within the study period with annual rate of – 0.045 and R2 of 19.19 %. The annual trend of relative humidity shows decreasing trend as well at annual rate of – 0.01 with R2 of 0.35%. Similarly, there is an increasing trend in mean annual wind speed within the study period with annual rate of 0.18 and R2 of 1.3 %. The greatest decrease in rainfall was obtained in 2000 with 600 mm below normal followed by 2006 with 558.6 mm below normal while 2012 had the least (30.0 mm below normal). The study has shown evidence of climate variability/change in Uyo Local climate zone. Hence, it was recommended among others that on-farm adaptation measures like planting of trees, mulching, good drainage systems should be improved upon by farmers to reduce vulnerability.