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Some statistical characteristics of drought area variations in the savanna region of Nigeria

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Summary

The interannual variability of seasonal Bhalme-and-Mooley-type drought indices over the savanna belt of Nigeria is examined and a 57-year (1931–1987) drought area series has been derived using 34 stations. The area under drought conditions is obtained by considering areas which have drought indices of less than — 1.0. The interannual variability of the drought areas is large, demonstrating large variations in the seasonal rainfall over the region. Statistical tests suggest a significant long-term increasing trend in the areal extent of drought. In particular, there is a major shift towards an increase in the mean areal extent of drought between the two periods 1931–1960 and 1961–1987.

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  1. Department of Geography, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria

    E. O. Oladipo

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  1. E. O. Oladipo
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Oladipo, E.O. Some statistical characteristics of drought area variations in the savanna region of Nigeria. Theor Appl Climatol 50, 147–155 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00866113

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00866113

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