Comparative Analysis of Thunderstorm and Rainfall Occurrences Over Nigeria

Abstract

The study evaluates the relationship between Thunderstorm (TS) and Rainfall (RF) occurrence over Nigeria for a period of Thirty years (1970 - 1999), sixteen stations where selected based on availability of data. Three major areas were discussed; the annual, spatial and seasonal occurrences of TS and RF The variability of TS and RF over the study period were also discussed. To achieve these objectives, secondary data on climate (TS and RF) for 30 years was analyzed using descriptive and inferential Statistics. The results show among other things that there is no significant relationship between annual TS occurrence and annual RF occurrence at 95% significance levels. It also shows that TS and RF decreases from south to north. However, a station RF does not depend entirely on its TS activity. Finally, TS and RF are significant at 95% level of confidence in seasonal occurrence, all parts of Nigeria experience both TS and RF, but at different degree. The seasonal characteristics of TS and RF are similar, though TS has a double peak, the first in June, precedes, the mono peak of RF in July; the second occurs in September. TS occurrence is an indication that RF will soon occur especially during the late dry season and early rainy season.

Keywords - Comparative Analysis, Nigeria, Occurrence, Rainfall (RF), Thunderstorm (TS) and Variation.