The harmathan phenomenon and its effect on the environment
CHAPTER ONE
Objective of the study
The objectives of the study are;
- To find the effect of harmattan on human health
- To find out the effect of harmattan on agriculture
- To determination of the frequency and density of dust deposited
CHAPTER TWO
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
INTRODUCTION
Harmattan is the dust-laden wind blowing from Sahara. Harmattan is a weather condition in the tropics in which dust particles are blown up into the air by winds defined as from November to February. Some of the dust is trapped on vegetation, while others blow toward the south. The air in horizontal movement relatives to the earth surface and pushes southward from the Sahara desert by the northeast wind. The year is marked by changes in the weather, ecology, and amount of daylight, and these changes result from earth’s orbit around the sun and earth’s axial tilt relative to the ecliptic plane. In the temperate and subpolar region of the earth, there are four seasons in a year; spring, summer, autumn, and winter. In tropical and subtropical regions which Nigeria is one of them, there are two seasons; the rainy (wet or monsoon) season and the dry season (Harmattan); the Harmattan dust constitutes haze, largely from the anthropogenic source of the particulate matter. For the purpose of this study, there is an examination of the Harmattan season and its effect on human health and comfort It blows during the dry season, which occurs during the lowest-sun months, when the subtropical ridge from high pressure stays over the Central Sahara desert and when the low-pressure inter-tropical convergence zone stays over the Gulf of Guinea. It is characterized by dry and dusty northeast trade wind that blows from the Sahara desert into the Gulf of Guinea between the end of November and the middle of March. On its passage over the Sahara, it picks up fine particles (between 0.5 and 10 micromaterials). The depletion ability of Harmattan dust also reduces visibility drastically during the Harmattan season. This depletion characteristic has a multiplier effect. It affects agricultural yield and brings about poor visibility that affects transportation, especially the aviation industry. Travelers express their displeasure over the arrival of the Harmattan season as it brings discomfort to people. Harmattan also affects the economic status of people, as a lot of people have to buy new clothes and sweaters that will enable them to manage the cold and dusty weather condition. This research is expected to examine the impact of the changes in human health and comfort attributable to extreme weather and climatic conditions by Harmattan. The high rate of dust concentration has adversely contributed to the condition of human health and the population.
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Research design
The researcher used descriptive research survey design in building up this project work the choice of this research design was considered appropriate because of its advantages of identifying attributes of a large population from a group of individuals. The design was suitable for the study as the study sought to the harmattan phenomenon and its effect on the environment
Study area
Ibadan is the capital and most populous city of Oyo State, Nigeria. With a population of over 6 million, it is the third most populous city in Nigeria after Lagos and Kano; it is the country’s largest city by geographical area. At the time of Nigeria’s independence in 1960, Ibadan was the largest and most populous city in the country, and the second most populous in Africa behind Cairo.
Ibadan is located in south-western Nigeria, 128 kilometres (80 mi) inland northeast of Lagos and 530 kilometres (330 mi) southwest of Abuja, the federal capital, and is a prominent transit point between the coastal region and the areas in the hinterland of the country. Ibadan had been the centre of administration of the old Western Region since the days of the British colonial rule, and parts of the city’s ancient protective walls still stand to this day. The principal inhabitants of the city are the Yoruba people, as well as various communities (notably Igbo, Hausa, and Efik) from other parts of the country.
Ibadan is located in south-western Nigeria in the southeastern part of Oyo State at about 119 kilometres (74 miles) northeast of Lagos and 120 kilometres (75 miles) east of the Nigerian international border with the Republic of Benin. It lies completely within the tropical forest zone but close to the boundary between the forest and the derived savanna. The city ranges in elevation from 150 m in the valley area, to 275 m above sea level on the major north–south ridge which crosses the central part of the city. The city covers a total area of 3,080 square kilometres (1,190 sq mi), the largest in Nigeria after Bauchi.
The city of Ibadan is naturally drained by four rivers with many tributaries: Ona River in the North and West; Ogbere River towards the East; Ogunpa River flowing through the city and Kudeti River in the Central part of the metropolis. Ogunpa River, a third-order stream with a channel length of 12.76 km and a catchment area of 54.92 km2. Lake Eleyele is located at the northwestern part of the city, while the Osun River and the Asejire Lake bounds the city to the east.
Ibadan has a tropical wet and dry climate (Köppen climate classification Aw), with a lengthy wet season and relatively constant temperatures throughout the course of the year. Ibadan’s wet season runs from March through October, though August sees somewhat of a lull in precipitation. This lull nearly divides the wet season into two different wet seasons. November to February forms the city’s dry season, during which Ibadan experiences the typical West African harmattan. The mean total rainfall for Ibadan is 1420.06 mm, falling in approximately 109 days. There are two peaks for rainfall, June and September. The mean maximum temperature is 26.46 C, minimum 21.42 C and the relative humidity is 74.55%.
CHAPTER FOUR
PRESENTATION ANALYSIS INTERPRETATION OF DATA
Introduction
Efforts will be made at this stage to present, analyze and interpret the data collected during the field survey. This presentation will be based on the responses from the completed questionnaires. The result of this exercise will be summarized in tabular forms for easy references and analysis. It will also show answers to questions relating to the research questions for this research study. The researcher employed simple percentage in the analysis.
DATA ANALYSIS
The data collected from the respondents were analyzed in tabular form with simple percentage for easy understanding.
A total of 133(one hundred and thirty three) questionnaires were distributed and 133 questionnaires were returned.
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
Introduction
It is important to ascertain that the objective of this study was to ascertain the harmattan phenomenon and its effect on the environment
In the preceding chapter, the relevant data collected for this study were presented, critically analyzed and appropriate interpretation given. In this chapter, certain recommendations made which in the opinion of the researcher will be of benefits in addressing the challenge of the harmattan phenomenon and its effect on the environment
Summary
This study was on the harmattan phenomenon and its effect on the environment. Three objectives were raised which included: To find the effect of harmattan on human health, to find out the effect of harmattan on agriculture and to determination of the frequency and density of dust deposited. In line with these objectives, two research hypotheses were formulated and two null hypotheses were posited. The total population for the study is 200 residents in Ibadan. The researcher used questionnaires as the instrument for the data collection. Descriptive Survey research design was adopted for this study. A total of 133 respondents made up married men, married women, youths and students was used for the study. The data collected were presented in tables and analyzed using simple percentages and frequencies
Conclusion
The elements present in the harmattan dust are expected to comprise of light and heavy metals. Heavy metals are known to be harmful to human health if they are more than the recommended concentration value by World Health Organization (WHO) standard. Iwo and Oyo are expected to have lower values of the dust concentrations due to the drop of the dust particle during its transportation from the Sahara desert. Therefore, the harmattan dust that blows across the stations under consideration has lower concentration of the element observed
Recommendation
We should produce drastic reduction on the number of trees with significant canopies around farm sites. The analyses showed that harmattan dust has increased nutrient value than soils as such, has great agricultural value. Increased harmattan dust in ibadan will encourage urban farming in the city, thus reducing food insecurity in the state and by extension the country.
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