Rainfall Trend in the Sudano-Sahelian Zone of Nigeria

Abstract

The paper highlighted used trend analysis to determine the rainfall variations over four stations (Kebbi, Yobe, Sokoto and Katsina) in the Sudano-Sahelian zone of Nigeria. Rainfall data for 50 years in the zone were tested using 5-year and 10-year running mean. The whole period was divided into decades and the decadal means compared with long-term mean. Results indicate a decrease in annual rainfall in the zone from the mid 1970s up to the mid 1990s. Recent trends, however, show increase in annual rainfall from the mid 1990s. The importance of this for agricultural and water resources planning and development cannot be over emphasized.