Title: Some aspects of physiologic climatology in Nigeria

Authors: Oyenike Mary Eludoyin

Addresses: Department of Geography and Planning Sciences, Faculty of Social and Management Sciences, Adekunle Ajasin University, P.M.B. 001, Akungba Akoko, Ondo State, Nigeria

Abstract: This study discusses the focus of researches in climate science in Nigeria with the view of identifying important gaps in knowledge in the publications in the field. The study used both expository review and geostatistics to present its results. The general overview of the field of climatology in Nigeria showed that Nigerian rainfall has been well studied while information on most other climate elements and issues is less available. This study emphasised the need for more researches on other aspects of climatology, especially physiologic climatology. Results from this study showed that physiologic or thermal stress, in terms of effective temperature index (ETI), relative strain index (RSI) and temperature-humidity index (THI) in Nigeria has been on the increase, especially since 1981-1990, and is forecasted to increase until (or beyond) 2030 (ETI°C = −0.007x² + 0.234x + 23.63; RSI ratio = 0.001x² −0.0003x + 0.17; THI°C = −0.02x² + 0.37x + 23.89; x = nth decade from 1951-1960). The study concluded that increase in thermal stress in Nigeria, especially as the rate of urbanisation increases justifies more diversified investigations to physiologic climates.

Keywords: physiological stress; urban climate; coping strategies; Nigeria; climate science; thermal stress; temperature; urbanisation rate.

DOI: 10.1504/IER.2013.055159

Interdisciplinary Environmental Review, 2013 Vol.14 No.2, pp.150 - 185

Received: 24 Aug 2012
Accepted: 13 Apr 2013

Published online: 30 Jun 2014 *

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