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Rainfall distribution, variability and probability in plateau state, Nigeria
Author(s) -
Odumodu L. O.
Publication year - 1983
Publication title -
journal of climatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.58
H-Index - 166
eISSN - 1097-0088
pISSN - 0196-1748
DOI - 10.1002/joc.3370030406
Subject(s) - plateau (mathematics) , precipitation , climatology , wet season , distribution (mathematics) , irrigation , environmental science , spatial distribution , geography , physical geography , geology , meteorology , mathematics , cartography , mathematical analysis , ecology , remote sensing , biology
The basic objective of this investigation is the determination of the spatial distribution of rainfall in Plateau State. Nigeria. The results show that the greatest amounts of rainfall are obtained in the southern and western parts of the State and on the southern and western margins of the high Plateau in particular. This pattern of rainfall distribution is explained partly by the movements and positions of the ITD (intertropical discontinuity) at various times of the year, and partly by the interplay of the direction of rainbearing south‐westerly winds with the physiographic features in the State. In general, also, the rainfall amounts are higher on the highland parts of the Stale than on the lowlands. Conversely, rainfall variabilities are higher on the lowlands of the State than on the high Plateau. Furthermore, rainfall variabilities are higher at the beginning and at the cessation of rainfalls than in the middle of the rainy season. Examples of implications of high rainfall variability and low probability of receiving certain given threshold amounts of rainfall at different phenological stages of crop developments, are given. These examples serve to substantiate the need for supplementary irrigation facilities in the Slate.