Assessing Four Decades of Climate Variability in Kano City, Nigeria Using ERA5 Data: Trends in Temperature, Pressure and Humidity
Akinsanmi Akinbolati
Isaiah E. Igwe
Florence N. Ikechiamaka
Abubakar Sadiq
Al-Mustapha Abba Jaye
Abstract
In recent years, climate change studies have become prominent globally because of its negative impact on the socio-economic lives of the citizenry and the need to mitigate against it. Investigating the degree of climate change variability in an urban city such as Kano becomes imperative. This study investigated temperature, pressure, and humidity variability in Kano, Nigeria, using ERA5 reanalysis data (1980–2021), processed via empirical and statistical methods. Annual averages were 303.00 K (temperature), 42.59% RH (humidity), and 1002.74 hPa (pressure). Correlation coefficients revealed long-term trends: temperature increased significantly with positive R of 0.66, pressure rose moderately with R of +0.16 and humidity with R of −0.22. Monthly analysis identified August as the coldest (300.79 K, 27.1°C) and April as the hottest (308.14 K, 34.99°C). A 7-year interval analysis (2015–2021) highlighted accelerated warming (49% increase), alongside humidity (26%) and pressure (73%) rises, aligning with Standardized Anomaly Index trends confirming intensified climate variability. These results underscore a clear climate shift, with temperature anomalies dominating recent years. The findings emphasize urgent mitigation strategies, particularly green energy adoption, to address escalating climate risks in urban Kano. This study provides actionable insights for policymakers and urban planners to enhance climate resilience in semi-arid regions.
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