THE CHANGING PATTERN OF RAINFALL IN SOUTH EASTERN NIGERIA WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO ENUGU AND CALABAR WITHIN THE YEARS 1975-2013: ITS RELEVANCE IN LABOUR PRODUCTIVITY

Abstract

Rainfall is an important climatic parameter that affects not only the way and manner man lives but also every facet of the ecological system. In this study, rainfall data of 38 years was supplied by the Nigerian Meteorological Services (NIMET) Lagos Nigeria. Two stations namely Enugu (Lat.6.5, Long.7) and Calabar (Lat.4.97, Long. 8.35) were analyzed. The data were on daily basis from which the yearly totals were subsequently analyzed using statistical tools such as standard deviation, decadal mean, mean total, mean deviation and Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient (r). The result however showed that Calabar had a decadal mean of 2953.3mm and a decreasing trend in the first decade after which it experienced a rise throughout the other decades whereas Enugu had a decadal mean of 1777.8mm and a steady rise throughout the time of study. The result of this work can be useful for irrigation scheduling, global and regional climate modeling and for national agricultural planning for sustainable development especially in a COVID 19 ravaged economy.