Volume 25, Issue 1, December 2018, Pages 337–346
Akera Nguseer Mercilina1, Danjuma Andembutop Kwesaba2, Benjamin Umaru3, Chuma Obiamaka Vivian4, and Angyu Budi Dente5
1 Department of Geography, Benue State University, Makurdi, Nigeria
2 Department of Hospitality and Tourism Management, Federal University Wukari, Nigeria
3 Department of Hospitality and Tourism Management, Federal University Wukari, Nigeria
4 Department of Hospitality and Tourism Management, Federal University Wukari, Nigeria
5 Department of Hospitality and Tourism Management, Federal University Wukari, Nigeria
Original language: English
Copyright © 2018 ISSR Journals. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
The study investigated seasonal variation in outdoor thermal comfort in Makurdi from 1971-2010. Daily air temperature (0C) and relative humidity (%) of the study area were obtained from Nigerian Meteorological Agency Operational Headquarters, Oshodi, Lagos. Daily thermal comfort levels were computed from the obtained data using the temperature humidity index (THI). The THI values were then summed into monthly, seasonal and annual comfort values. Correlation analysis was used to determine trend in the level of thermal comfort from 1971 to 2010. The monthly variation of THI showed the highest THI of 27.2 in April and the lowest THI of 24.7 in January. The seasonal variation of THI indicated highest THI of 26.5 during the hot dry season and the lowest THI of 25.1 during the cool dry season. The annual variation of THI showed an increasing trend from 1971-2010 with a positive correlation coefficient (R2) of 0.018. The result suggest that human discomfort is common in April while January is thermally comfortable Seasonally, the hot dry season was associated with human discomfort whereas the cool dry season is relatively comfortable. The positive annual trend of THI suggested a progressive change from human comfort to discomfort in the study area. The study concluded that measures of ameliorating human thermal discomfort should be focused principally in the months of March and April which coincides with the hot dry season to minimize the negative effects of outdoor thermal discomfort on the socio-economic development in Makurdi.
Author Keywords: Seasonal Variation, Human Comfort, Temperature, Humidity Index, Climate.
Akera Nguseer Mercilina1, Danjuma Andembutop Kwesaba2, Benjamin Umaru3, Chuma Obiamaka Vivian4, and Angyu Budi Dente5
1 Department of Geography, Benue State University, Makurdi, Nigeria
2 Department of Hospitality and Tourism Management, Federal University Wukari, Nigeria
3 Department of Hospitality and Tourism Management, Federal University Wukari, Nigeria
4 Department of Hospitality and Tourism Management, Federal University Wukari, Nigeria
5 Department of Hospitality and Tourism Management, Federal University Wukari, Nigeria
Original language: English
Copyright © 2018 ISSR Journals. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Abstract
The study investigated seasonal variation in outdoor thermal comfort in Makurdi from 1971-2010. Daily air temperature (0C) and relative humidity (%) of the study area were obtained from Nigerian Meteorological Agency Operational Headquarters, Oshodi, Lagos. Daily thermal comfort levels were computed from the obtained data using the temperature humidity index (THI). The THI values were then summed into monthly, seasonal and annual comfort values. Correlation analysis was used to determine trend in the level of thermal comfort from 1971 to 2010. The monthly variation of THI showed the highest THI of 27.2 in April and the lowest THI of 24.7 in January. The seasonal variation of THI indicated highest THI of 26.5 during the hot dry season and the lowest THI of 25.1 during the cool dry season. The annual variation of THI showed an increasing trend from 1971-2010 with a positive correlation coefficient (R2) of 0.018. The result suggest that human discomfort is common in April while January is thermally comfortable Seasonally, the hot dry season was associated with human discomfort whereas the cool dry season is relatively comfortable. The positive annual trend of THI suggested a progressive change from human comfort to discomfort in the study area. The study concluded that measures of ameliorating human thermal discomfort should be focused principally in the months of March and April which coincides with the hot dry season to minimize the negative effects of outdoor thermal discomfort on the socio-economic development in Makurdi.
Author Keywords: Seasonal Variation, Human Comfort, Temperature, Humidity Index, Climate.
How to Cite this Article
Akera Nguseer Mercilina, Danjuma Andembutop Kwesaba, Benjamin Umaru, Chuma Obiamaka Vivian, and Angyu Budi Dente, “AN EXAMINATION OF SEASONAL VARIATION IN THE LEVELS OF OUTDOOR THERMAL COMFORT IN MAKURDI METROPOLIS, NIGERIA,” International Journal of Innovation and Applied Studies, vol. 25, no. 1, pp. 337–346, December 2018.
