Rainfall Recovery in North-East Arid Zone of Nigeria: Comparative Analysis of Drought and Post Drought Decades

This study used annual rainfall records from three stations within the North East Arid Zone of Nigeria for the period (1957-2017) to measure the extent of the rainfall recovery by comparing the drought decades and post drought decades rainfall patterns. Monthly rainfall records from Potiskum, Maiduguri and Nguru Stations were used. Descriptive and inferential statistical tools were employed in analysing the data. The findings of the study revealed a significant year-to-year variability in rainfall characteristics around 61 years (1957-2017) averages. The variability was large in 1970s up till 1990s, and lower in 1960s and from 2000 to 2018. Decreasing trend in annual rainfall amount was observed during the study period while a stability in onset and cessation dates were observed. The differences between 1957-1986 and 1987-2017 climatic season were found to be statistically insignificant. The study concluded that the reported rainfall recovery from drought is statistically insignificant and the observed long term mean trend revealed a decreasing trend. Therefore, the theory of Sahel rainfall recovery can be better termed as a ‘’break of the series of drought or decline in frequency and magnitude of occurrence of drought’’ The research recommended the continuations with the drought adaptation and mitigation strategies adopted by local population, decisions makers and organizations following the series Sahelian droughts of 1970s and 1980s.

Geo-spatial Assessment of Land Use/Land Cover (LU/LC) Dynamics in Akoko South West Local Government, Ondo State, Nigeria

Geo-spatial assessment of land use/cover dynamics in Akoko South West Local Government was instigated to bridge the knowledge gap created by data deficiency on the nature, scope and magnitude of land use/cover change in the area. This was done through the analysis of Landsat images of three epochs from 2000 through 2010 to 2020. The processing of the satellite images was done in ArcGIS 10.8 while the analysis and 2030 projection was done in Microsoft office excel using the result from the analysis. QGIS was used to remove the scan lines error on the 2010 image. The result showed increasing built-up area, reducing vegetation and farmlands and diminishing rock outcrops. The changes vary among the different classification characteristics. The increasing change in the second epoch was higher in built up areas while rock outcrops increased in the first epoch. Farmland and vegetation were on reducing trend throughout the study period. However, the moderate change observed in the second epoch for the two land cover classes were not as significant as the first epoch. Government policies on forest reserve should strictly be adhered to in order to preserve the vegetation in the area. People of the area should be advised to diversify their economy in order to avoid total dependence on the forest reserve.

Geo-Chemical Techniques for Earthquake Forecasting in Nigeria

Regardless of the doubt caused by some rounds on the impossibility of earthquake forecast, more and more countries, even at the highest governmental levels, realize that doing nothing is the ostrich position of dread before the real difficulties associated with the creation of a real forecasting system. Nigeria in times past was believed to be aseismic. However, the seismic record of Nigeria from 1933-2021 have demonstrated in contrast to the idea, numerous quakes have been recorded in Nigeria throughout the years. With the development of observation techniques and theoretical knowledge of geochemistry, geochemical observation of faults gas has become a hotspot once more in recent years. Rn, Hg, H2, etc., are used for geochemical observations. 222Rn has a half-life of 3.825 days, a magnitude 5.0 earthquake will be detected through precursory phenomena at a distance not greater than 142 km. Mercury and other elements are used as important detectors for earthquake prediction and they play an important role in revealing the relationship between fluid in the fault zone and the occurrence of earthquakes, the range for a magnitude 5.0 earthquake is limited to 200 km. Hydrogen concentrations have been monitored for precursory variations in many fault systems, using either discrete sampling and laboratory analysis or continuous monitoring of ground gas, using hydrogen-sensitive fuel cells. Precursory changes in groundwater chemistry are often attributed to the mixing of fluids from two or more chemically distinct aquifers, the physical mechanism responsible for the mixing of fluids is, however, not well established.

Evolution of Marine Bars under Micro and Mesotidal Settings of Mahanadi Delta Coast

Shoreward migration process of longshore bar is an important aspect of shoreline changes in the Mahanadi delta front. It involves coalescence of individual bars to form large complex bars just before welding on to the shoreline. Such welding sometimes results in the formation of large hook spits. Bar welding mechanism can be an extremely important form of natural beach nourishment. This study aims to detect stages of evolution of longshore bars and consequent welding with mainland. Multi-dated Landsat images have been used to detect evolution of longshore bar and welding processes. QGIS platform has been used to process images and compose required maps.

Tree Conservation Challenges among the Indigenous Pastoral Rendille Community in Marsabit, Kenya

Every environment is surrounded by traditional people who have lived in the geographic location for a long time and use their particular knowledge to cohabit with the natural ecosystem. This study assessed challenges encountered towards tree conservation by the Rendille pastoral community in Kenya. Selected tree species; Olea europaea, Terminalia sp. and Hyphaene compressa, that are commonly used by the community were identified and the probable threats towards their conservation. Some of these tree conservation challenges by the indigenous Rendille were: charcoal burning and fuel wood consumption, demand of traditional tree medicinal value, climate variability extremes and demand for land for settlement by the community. The results indicate that, charcoal burning (84.4%) and demand for traditional tree medicine (77.3%) were leading causes frustrating tree conservation among the Rendille. To mitigate these challenges, the respondents indicated that, creation of awareness (89.1%) and promotion of other sources of fuel (78.9%) could be vital factors. The study recommends Integration of Indigenous Knowledge (IK) with formal education to enhance conservation of the mentioned tree species.

Spatio-Temporal Changing Scenario of Growth and Structure of Manufacturing Industries in Asansol-Durgapur Region, West Bengal

Asansol-Durgapur Industrial Region serves as nerve-knot of the economy of West Bengal as well as the entire economic region of Eastern India because of its enormous reservoir of excellent quality of coal of Raniganj Coalfield, outstanding network of transport by rail and road, skillful and cheap labour in close proximity of states. With the establishment of a number of large industrial units like Iron & Steel Plant, Durgapur Steel Plant, Chittaranjan Locomotive works, Durgapur Alloy Steel Plant, Durgapur Thermal Power Station, and hundreds of medium and small-scale industries have made the region great industrial belt after Hooghly industrial belt in West Bengal. Though there was rapid industrialization after independence period but the growth of industries has not taken place uniformly throughout the study area. This is because, high manufacturing intensity found in Durgapur, Asansol, Raniganj and Kulti areas whereas the Salanpur, Jamuria, Fraidpur, Barabani areas witnesses low manufacturing intensity. The decadal growth of industries also noteworthy, in 1951 there were 46 industrial units and it increased to 430 in 2019. The number of basic metal and engineering units was 2 and 18 respectively in the year 1951 whereas in 2019 the basic metal and engineering unit increased to 122 and 66 respectively. This paper primarily focuses on the estimation of spatial and temporal distribution of manufacturing industrial units, growth and structural changes, manufacturing intensity and concentration of the manufacturing sector during the period of 1951 to 2019 in Asansol-Durgapur Industrial Region.

Sectoral Impacts of Flash Flood in Tanguar Haor in Sunamganj of Bangladesh

Sunamganj is a north-eastern district of Bangladesh is considered a highly flood-prone haor area. Uttar Shreepur Union of Taherpur Upazila of Sunamganj District was selected to conduct the study to find out the causes behind the flash flood, situation analysis during and post-flood and different sectoral impacts of flash flood because these areas were flooded almost every year. Six focus group discussions (FGD) along with a total of 162 households were evenly targeted from six selected villages and a semi-structured self-explorative questionnaire was used to collect primary data. The study revealed that heavy rainfall (92.5%) and low land (53.13%) were the main causes of flood. The study also showed that transportation (84.37%) and agricultural (82.5%) sectors were the most affected, followed by water and sanitation (60%), housing (51.25%), and health (36.62%), respectively; among these, crops (89.37%) and animal husbandry (33.13%) were the most affected part of agriculture, followed by health sector, children (89.37%) and aged people (69.23%) were the most affected and the people were mainly suffered from cold and fever (98.13%), diarrhoea (80.63%), typhoid (27.5%), and dysentery (33.13%), respectively because of the crisis of pure drinking water and poor sanitation system. About 85% respondents stored normal food, followed by dry food (30%), medicine (25%) and water (0.63%), respectively to meet up post-flood food crisis. 62% respondents received flood warning signals by mobile phone (54.37%) followed by, radio/TV (41.87%), relatives (41.25%) and Upazila/Union Parisad (13.75%), respectively. However, various initiatives were taken by GOs and NGOs to build back a better immediate post-flood period. Finally, it is suggested that proper long-term steps should be taken to strengthen resilience and coping capacity for hydrological disasters in the study area.

Application of Electrical Geophysical Method in Site Selection for Viable Area for Agricultural Practices: A Case Study of Ukpenu-Ibhiese and Iruekpen Edo State-Nigeria

Electrical geophysical method was applied, to select viable area with essential soil nutrients for plant’s growth. Conventional soil test analysis was carried out for the purpose of confirmation. A case study was done at Ukpenu-Ibhiese and Iruekpen in Ekpoma. The result of the electrical resistivity geophysical method showed that southwest and northwest of the area has resistivity values that ranged between 80Ωm to 170Ωm while the remaining part of the area has values higher than 170Ωm, ranged from 580Ωm to 950Ωm. Values of organic matter, Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium, obtained from the soil test in area with 80Ωm to 170Ωm indicated good proportion of essential soil nutrients for plant growth while area with resistivity values that ranged from 580Ωm to 950Ωm was deficient in essential soil nutrients for plant growth. The results further proved that soil electrical physical properties thus detected and mapped can be used as a proxy of physical, chemical, and biological features relevant for the appropriate site selection and soils management, based on their resistivity behavior, spatial variability, and time dynamics in the area of study.

Implications of Philately in the Representation of the Ceahl?u National Park from Romania - An Ecological Revised Case Study

Romania is a blessed place with many areas of unique beauty - as part of the natural heritage - with places where the spectacle of nature delights your eyes and take your breath with every step. Constantly promoting philatelic themes that use natural wealth and the beauty of our country as subjects, the administrative entity (with various names over time) responsible for issuing postage stamps performs a series of postage stamps in whose images are found rarities of flora and fauna, a miracle of nature. To show that protected natural areas have a special beauty, and to make them known to everyone, we bring to the talk the most significant philatelic peculiarities in the Ceahl?u National Park (Romania). In this context, the purpose of the research is to identify, index, analyze, describe and disseminate the main philatelic materials that promote the protected area considered. The realization of the whole approach was based on the information provided by a series of philatelic catalogs and sites with dedicated philatelic content. The results show that the concern for the habitat of the area was remarkable, both the multitude of identified philatelic pieces and their artwork speak for themselves.

The Effects of Wetland Droughts on a Reserve in the African Continent

Climate change and its attendant fallouts such as drought, flood etc affect every aspects of environment including wetland ecosystem. This paper seeks to examine the effects of droughts on Dagona Waterfowl Sanctuary−an important wintering area for migratory birds in Bade local government, Yobe state, Nigeria. The study used annual rainfall data collected from the archives of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) with respect to Nguru weather station in the area for a period of 1956-2015. Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) in conjunction with Percentage Deviation Below Mean (PDBM) models were applied for comprehensive drought detection on a time scale of twelve (12) months. SPI anomaly graphs were plotted to depict drought of varying magnitude. The researcher went round the sanctuary and made observations with the help of binocular and telescope. Findings explicitly revealed that the study area was replete with droughts of varying intensities ranging from mild, moderate, severe and extreme ones. And high magnitude droughts led to hydrological changes causing drying up of wetland water, decreased production of seeds that provide forage opportunities, intrusion of invasive species such as typha grasses forming dense biomass that hinder birds to prey on fishes or swim freely. The result of the analysis would add to the mainstream theoretical body of knowledge about droughts effects on wetlands. The research concludes that droughts of high magnitude occurred variably and affected both native and migratory birds in the study area and hence recommend the integration of disasters like drought in the management strategies of the wetlands.