The table below gives the climatic data for two different stations A & B, in Nigeria. Use the data to answer the questions that follow station Altitude Lati...

Assessment: WAEC SSCE - Geography - 1994 (Essay) Subject: Geography

Question 1 Report

The table below gives the climatic data for two different stations A & B, in Nigeria. Use the data to answer the questions that follow

station Altitude Latitude J F M A M J J A S O N D
A 360m 13ºN Rainfall (cm) 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.0 4.8 9.1 15.5 24.9 14.5 1.5 1.5 0.0
Temperature (ºC) 24 28 32 33 32 29 27 26 28 31 29 26
B 225m 7ºN Rainfall (cm) 1.0 2.3 8.9 13.7 15.0 18.8 16.0 8.4 17.8 15.5 4.6 1.0
Temperature (ºC) 27 29 29 28 27 26 24 23 25 25 26 27

(i) Identify the climatic belt to which each station belongs
(ii) Outline the main climatic characteristics of each station
(iii) In what ways will the agricultural practices in the two stations differ?

Answer Details
Station A (360 m, 13°N)JFMAMJJASOND
Rainfall (cm)0.00.00.01.04.89.115.524.914.51.51.50.0
Temp (°C)242832333229272628312926
Station B (225 m, 7°N)JFMAMJJASOND
Rainfall (cm)1.02.38.913.715.018.816.08.417.815.54.61.0
Temp (°C)272929282726242325252627

(i) Climatic belt of each station

  • Station A (13°N): total rainfall 72.8 cm with a single maximum (August) and about six dry months. This is the Sudan / tropical continental (savanna) belt of the far north.
  • Station B (7°N): total rainfall 123.0 cm with a double maximum (June and September) and a short August dip. This is the tropical wet / Guinea (southern) belt near the coast.

(ii) Main climatic characteristics

Station A: high temperatures with a large annual range (26 to 33°C, range 7°C, hottest just before the rains in April); a short single rainy season (June to September) and a long, marked dry season; moderate total rainfall (about 728 mm). Skies are clear for much of the year and the harmattan is strongly felt.

Station B: uniformly high temperatures with a small annual range (23 to 29°C, range 6°C); a long rainy season with two maxima (the "little dry season" showing as the August dip); high humidity and a large total (about 1230 mm). The climate is hot and wet for most of the year.

(iii) Differences in agricultural practice

  • Station A (short, single wet season, drier): suited to drought-tolerant crops and grains such as millet, guinea-corn (sorghum), groundnuts, cotton and cowpeas, usually one crop per year timed to the rains; the open grassland also supports livestock rearing (cattle, sheep, goats), and irrigation is often needed.
  • Station B (long, double wet season, wetter): suited to root and tree crops needing much moisture such as yam, cassava, cocoa, oil palm, plantain, rubber and kola; the two rainfall peaks allow two planting seasons a year, and the heavier rain favours arable crop farming rather than large-scale grazing (tsetse fly also limits cattle).

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