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An Assessment Of Climate Change And Variability In Coastal Region
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1.2: SIGNIFICANCE OF STUDY
Worldwide,
coastal areas are the most exploited in terms of urbanization due to
their abundance in natural resources that can provide humans with many
ecosystem services that are important to support livelihoods and
economic activities (Kron, 2008).
The level of disturbance and
effect of urbanization on natural process in coastal regions are fast
becoming a nightmare, some of which are expected to become more serious
due to changing climate (Satterthwaite, 2010).
Hence, this study
examines and analyzes climate change and variability in Lagos coastal
region using temperature and rainfall measurement as a parameter over a
specific duration (30years). This study also highlights the impacts of
climate change to coastal regions that invariably may contribute to
accentuated environmental disasters and the exacerbation of health
risks.
1.3: AIM AND OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY.
1.3.1: AIM
The aim
of this study is to assess the climate trends for Lagos region and the
consequences on the coastal environment in order to develop an
appropriate climate change adaptation strategies for Lagos coastal
region.
1.3.2: OBJECTIVES.
The specific objectives are:
v To examine the rainfall and temperature trend in Lagos region (1981-2010)
v To assess the relative consequences of the climatic trends socio-economic activities and environment in Lagos region.
v To evaluate appropriate adaptation strategies towards sustainable Lagos coastal environment.
1.4: STUDY AREA
1.4.1: GEOGRAPHICAL BACKGROUND
Lagos,
a state in Nigeria is the study area of this research. It is a
commercial centre in Nigeria with a total of about 17 million
inhabitants, a yearly growth rate of 3.2% and second most populous city
in the country (Census, 1996). It is the fifth largest city in the
world, is the foremost manufacturing and port city in West Africa, and
the hub of business and economic development in Nigeria (BNRCC, 2012)
This coastal city is situated within latitude 6°23’N and 6°41’N and longitude 2°42’E and 3°42’E (Fig 1).
Figure
1: Lagos Coastal City (Source: Vulnerability of Poor Urban Coastal
Communities to Climate Change in Lagos, Nigeria. Fifth Urban Research
Symposium 2009
Lagos State is situated in south western Nigeria,
bordered in the north and east by Ogun State, in the west by the
Republic of Benin and in the south by the Atlantic Ocean. The state has
an area of approximately 3,345 square kilometres, which is about 0.4%
of the total area of Nigeria (Fig 1).
Lagos State has a coastline of
approximately 180km, underlined by sedimentary rocks; the state is on a
coastline plain characterized by predominantly flat terrain, with an
average elevation of less than 1.5m above sea level (BNRCC, 2012a). The
land slopes gently from the interior to the sea. Water bodies and
wetlands cover over 40% of the total land area of the state and an
additional 12% is subject to seasonal flooding (BNRCC, 2012b). The
coastal areas consist of a complex belt of barrier islands with active
ocean, beaches, lagoon and lagoon beaches, lagoon inlets, creeks,
rivers, swamps and sandy uplands and plains. The importance of the
coastal zone lies in the fact that it is not only already heavily
urbanized but rapid urbanization is continuing, exposing people,
infrastructure and tourism industry to greater risk of climate change
impact, particularly seal level rise (Okude and Ademiluyi, 2006).
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