Enugu is a climatic zone that has intermingled characteristics by two seasons the wet and dry seasons (Iloeje, 1981). The rainy season commences fully when the inter-tropical discontinuity is around latitude 60N, which is usually in late April or early May, and lasts till late October (Oboli, 1981).
The rains in this environment according to Riley and Spoltan (1987) like in most tropical environments are generally short and heavy. The average rainfall in the area is about 1800mm per annum although rainfall amount varies from year to year. Rainfall intensity also varies from 10mm/hr to 100mm/hr, the highest being usually recorded in April and October at the beginning and end of the rainy season (Iloeje, 1981). Thus, the area shows double maximal rainfall.
The dry season on the other hand covers five months of the year, beginning from November to March or early April (Iloeje, 1981) Riley and Spoltan (1987) noted that this season is character by two distinct thermally opposing weather periods namely; the cold harmattan, and the hot harmattan period. They added that very low temperature and very low relative humidity characterize the cold harmattan period. Temperature drops to as low as 150C, during the daytime and night temperature drop to as low as zero under clear skies. The air is generally very dusty concentrating more towards the ground under calm conditions, thus impairing visibility (Ene et al, 1997).
The hot transitional period according to Oboli (1981) on the other hand is characterized by high temperatures. This season lasts from late February to March. Daytime temperatures are generally above 400C, and night minimum temperatures are generally above 220C, he added.
Enugu urban area, due to its latitude location, receives abundant and constant insolation. The angle of the sun’s ray is almost vertical over the area all through the year, and so, there is a high intensity of solar radiation and sub-sequent high temperature. Enugu urban area experiences a mean monthly temperature of about 280C, mean annual maximum temperature of 220C, and temperature range of amount 110C. Thus, Enugu urban area is characterized by two major climatic phenomena rainfall and heat.
The rains in this environment according to Riley and Spoltan (1987) like in most tropical environments are generally short and heavy. The average rainfall in the area is about 1800mm per annum although rainfall amount varies from year to year. Rainfall intensity also varies from 10mm/hr to 100mm/hr, the highest being usually recorded in April and October at the beginning and end of the rainy season (Iloeje, 1981). Thus, the area shows double maximal rainfall.
The dry season on the other hand covers five months of the year, beginning from November to March or early April (Iloeje, 1981) Riley and Spoltan (1987) noted that this season is character by two distinct thermally opposing weather periods namely; the cold harmattan, and the hot harmattan period. They added that very low temperature and very low relative humidity characterize the cold harmattan period. Temperature drops to as low as 150C, during the daytime and night temperature drop to as low as zero under clear skies. The air is generally very dusty concentrating more towards the ground under calm conditions, thus impairing visibility (Ene et al, 1997).
The hot transitional period according to Oboli (1981) on the other hand is characterized by high temperatures. This season lasts from late February to March. Daytime temperatures are generally above 400C, and night minimum temperatures are generally above 220C, he added.
Enugu urban area, due to its latitude location, receives abundant and constant insolation. The angle of the sun’s ray is almost vertical over the area all through the year, and so, there is a high intensity of solar radiation and sub-sequent high temperature. Enugu urban area experiences a mean monthly temperature of about 280C, mean annual maximum temperature of 220C, and temperature range of amount 110C. Thus, Enugu urban area is characterized by two major climatic phenomena rainfall and heat.
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