Nigerian Meteorological Agency

Localized climate evidence for agricultural risk assessment remains scarce in northern Ethiopia. This study integrates long-term station observations with CHIRPS v3 and ERA5 to extend climate analysis in Tigray to 2024 and to link sub-regional rainfall and temperature variability directly to agricultural risk. Data from six meteorological stations in south Tigray were combined with high-resolution gridded rainfall and temperature datasets. Long-term seasonal and annual trends and variability in rainfall and temperature were assessed using standard non-parametric trend and rainfall variability analysis methods. Rainfall anomalies identified severe dry years (1984, 2002, 2015, 2022) and wet years (1998, 2006, 2010), highlighting pronounced interannual variability. Regional aggregates revealed statistically significant warming across Tmax, Tmin, and Tmean, with Sen’s slopes ranging from + 0.018 to + 0.046 °C yr⁻¹. Warming was strongest in Tmin, implying reduced night-time cooling and narrowing diurnal ranges. Between 1981 and 2008, temperatures rose steadily, briefly cooled during 2009–2011, then accelerated markedly through the 2010–2020s. Precipitation Concentration Index (PCI) results suggested increasing intra-annual rainfall concentration in some areas, with more rain concentrated in fewer events. Overall, the results indicate clear warming trends with spatially and temporally variable rainfall changes, carrying important implications for rain-fed agriculture. Improved observational networks, combined with downscaled projections, and expanded use of agro-climatic metrics, are critical for robust climate risk assessment and adaptation planning.

Soil organic carbon (SOC) and vegetation cover are critical indicators of ecosystem health, playing a vital role in mitigating climate change through carbon sequestration and enhancing land productivity. This study aimed to assess the spatial and temporal effects of the Green Legacy Initiative (GLI) on SOC distribution and related biophysical parameters between 2018 and 2025. A geospatial approach integrating Landsat-derived indices: Soil Organic Carbon (SOC), Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), Normalized Difference Moisture Index (NDMI), Bare Soil Index (BSI), and Land Surface Temperature (LST)were used. Results revealed that very high SOC was increased by 7.7% from 2018 to 2025. In comparison, maximum bare soil coverage declined significantly over the study period. NDVI value steadily increased, reflecting enhanced vegetation density and health, while NDMI indicated improved and stabilized moisture conditions. Simultaneously, LST dropped from 12.3°C in 2022, highlighting improved microclimatic conditions. Correlation results showed strong positive correlations between SOC and vegetation cover (NDVI), as well as strong negative correlations with bare soil index (BSI). Overall, the findings demonstrate that the GLI has effectively enhanced soil carbon sequestration, vegetation cover, and soil moisture, while reducing heat stress. It is recommended that such restoration programs be expanded and coupled with continuous geospatial monitoring to sustain the benefits of climate change mitigation and ecosystem resilience.

Africa faces intensifying heatwave hazards with far-reaching impacts on health, agriculture, and economic stability. Here, we assess changes in heatwave attributes, including duration, frequency, timing, and intensity, across nine African regions using 10 global numerical climate model simulations, with a multivariate bias-correction method applied to the model output. Under a high-end emissions scenario (SSP585), an upper limit projection, Western South Africa is projected to experience more than a 12-fold increase in heatwave duration and frequency. We apply Shapley Additive Explanations, an explainable artificial intelligence technique, to quantify how environmental drivers shape these changes, revealing strong regional contrasts arising from interactions among temperature, humidity, and land-surface modification. Temperature and humidity together account for more than 35% of projected increases in several regions, amplified by cropland and pasture expansion. A moderate mitigation scenario (SSP370) substantially reduces heatwave occurrence in West Africa, offering actionable guidance for land management and early-warning systems. Nonlinear climate and land-use interactions drive historical and future heatwave intensification across Africa, especially in Western South Africa, based on multivariate bias-correction and explainable AI applied to CMIP6 future projections.

Nigeria’s agricultural sector remains highly vulnerable to increasing climate variability. The reliance on rainfall for agricultural production, coupled with the growing frequency of extreme climatic events such as droughts and floods, poses a serious threat to food security and rural livelihoods. The utilization of meteorological data offers a strategic pathway toward enhancing climate resilience, improving productivity, and fostering entrepreneurial innovation in agribusiness. This paper examines how meteorological data can be effectively leveraged by entrepreneurs, agrotech firms, and farmers to develop adaptive, data-driven agricultural systems in Nigeria. Using a qualitative review and case-based approach, the study synthesizes information from peer-reviewed journals, Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) reports, and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). It outlines the relevance of meteorological information in precision agriculture, irrigation scheduling, insurance, and early warning systems, while exploring innovation models and start-up opportunities emerging from climate services. Findings indicate that with improved access to reliable meteorological data, entrepreneurs can develop scalable, technology-enabled agribusinesses that reduce climate risk, optimize resource use, and promote sustainable development. The study concludes with policy recommendations emphasizing capacity building, public private partnerships, and the mainstreaming of meteorological services into Nigeria’s agricultural innovation ecosystem.

ABSTRACT Ethiopia's economy is predominantly reliant on traditional rain‐fed small‐scale farming. Acknowledging the underutilization of its vast water resources, the government has prioritized expanding small‐scale irrigation. Nevertheless, there has been limited research into the reasons for its persistently low adoption or its impact on household income. This study identified the factors influencing household participation in small‐scale irrigation and evaluated their impact on income. Data were collected from 202 households via a structured questionnaire in a multi‐stage, cross‐sectional survey. A binary logistic regression model identified key drivers of participation. The results revealed that cultivable land size, distance to markets, distance to water sources, and engagement in off‐farm activities negatively influenced participation. In contrast, education level, family size, access to credit, and frequency of contact with extension services had positive impacts. Using a propensity score matching model, the study revealed that participation in small‐scale irrigation significantly increased average annual household income by 6249 Ethiopian Birr. Despite this economic benefit, adoption rates remain low. Therefore, we recommend that government agencies, particularly district agricultural offices, collaborate with non‐governmental organizations and local development partners to promote and support the adoption of small‐scale irrigation, thereby enhancing rural livelihoods and optimizing Ethiopia's water resource potential.

Abstract. This study examined the recurrence patterns of Earth's polar cap activities in response to various geomagnetic storm intensities. Time series data of polar cap indices (PCN and PCS) for great storm, severe storm, strong storm, moderate storm, and weak storm events were analysed. Nonlinear dynamics tools, including Recurrence Plot (RP), Recurrence Rate (RR), and Length of Diagonal Line (L), were applied to the polar cap variations to identify the recurring patterns associated with the various categories of geomagnetic storms. The RP, RR, and L effectively captured the distinct recurrence features in the PCN and PCS variations across different storm categories. During great storms, severe storms, and strong geomagnetic storms, the RPs unveils a strong deterministic structure for both PCN and PCS variations, whereas moderate and weak storms showed a rare deterministic structure of RP. Similarly, RR and L values were high during great storms, severe storms, and strong storms, however these indicators significantly decline during moderate and weak storms. These findings indicates that the recurrence density and deterministic behaviour in the polar cap activities, intensify with increased solar wind energy input into the magnetosphere.

Abstract Introduction Entrance surface air kerma (ESAK), body organ dose (BOD), and effective dose (ED) from two hospitals/diagnostic centres in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria for adult patients undergoing routine thorax posterior-anterior (PA) x-ray examination were assessed in this study. Materials and Methods A totally of 207 patients were carefully selected and considered for the study. CALDose_X 5.0 software program was used. The software makes use of the patients’ anthropometrical data, technical exposure parameters and the tube output of the X-ray machine. Results The estimated values of the ESAK in both centres were 0.258 mGy and 0.704 mGy, respectively. The skin recorded the highest BOD in both centres with 0.275 mGy in Hospital A and 0.717 mGy in Hospital B. Similarly, the whole body effective dose (ED) were also higher in Hospital B than Hospital A by a factor of 1.9. The effective dose recorded in Hospital A were below the value (0.04 mSv) reported in literatures for chest PA x-ray examination. Conclusion It was observed that the median values obtained for ESD in both centres are comparable with the established dose reference levels and the dose to male patients were higher than their female counterparts. Nevertheless, these results call for a quality assurance program (QAP) in diagnostic X-ray units in Nigerian hospitals.