Climate change, Terrestrial ecology imprints and adaptation options in semi-dry environments – a case of the Nigerian savannah
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Date
2010
Authors
Fasona, M.J
Tadross, M
Abiodun, B.J
Omojola, A.S
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
ICID+18 2nd International Conference
Abstract
Significant climate change expected over the 21st century will affect ecosystems and access to natural resources especially arable lands and water in arid and semi-arid environments. Restored and well managed, but climate-sensitive natural resource systems can become human shock absorbers, targets for climate change mitigation, and fulcrum for adaptation strategies. This study demonstrates how a degree of localised eco-geographical factors, some of which vary by season and areas, control the local climate in the semi-dry wooded savannah of Nigeria.
The eco-geographic variables were integrated within a GIS and statistically analysed using principal component analysis (PCA). The result was profiled for association and feedbacks between climate and the eco-geographic variables and to also determine the principal controlling factors of the local climate in both present and future scenario. The results suggest a local climate system driven mainly by the coupling between terrain, rainfall and temperature in all seasons. This climate-orographic complex predominates around the southwest-northwest corridor in all seasons except June-July-August (JJA). The system spatially reverses to the southeast-northeast corridor in JJA, which also coincides with the arrival of the West African monsoon. The southeast-northeast corridor thus receives maximum rainfall. This pattern is projected to continue in future scenario. However, the spatial influence of the climate-orographic complex will diminish around the northwest, while the system will weaken with rainfall becoming less significant in the system in JJA. The pattern of rural settlements and rural landuse suggests that livelihood systems of the local populations are directly connected to the local climate-orographic complex. This eco-climatic asset is also the single source of all major drainage of the entire western Nigeria.
Description
2nd International Conference: Climate, Sustainability and Development in Semi-arid Regions August 16 - 20, 2010, Fortaleza - Ceará, Brazil
Keywords
Climate change , Eco-geographic factors , Eco-climatic asset , Savannah , Research Subject Categories::SOCIAL SCIENCES
Citation
Mayowa J. Fasona, Mark Tadross, Babatunde J. Abiodun and Ademola S. Omojola (2010). Climate change, Terrestrial ecology imprints and adaptation options in semi-dry environments – a case of the Nigerian savannah. ICID+18 2nd International Conference: Climate, Sustainability and Development in Semi-arid Regions August 16 - 20, 2010, Fortaleza - Ceará, Brazil.