The factor controlling the onset and cessation of the rainy season in Nigeria is the?
Answer Details
The factor controlling the onset and cessation of the rainy season in Nigeria is the movement of the Inter Tropical Discontinuity (ITD). The ITD is a boundary between the northeasterly and southwesterly trade winds in the equatorial region. It moves northwards during the summer months and southwards during the winter months, bringing rainfall to different parts of Nigeria at different times of the year.
When the ITD is located over Nigeria, it brings moist air from the south into the country, leading to the onset of the rainy season. As the ITD continues to move northwards, it takes the rain with it, leading to the cessation of the rainy season. This movement of the ITD is influenced by a number of factors, including the temperature of the oceans, the location of the sun, and the pressure systems in the surrounding regions.
While other factors such as the presence of plateaux and highlands, the latitudinal extent of the country, and the warm Guinea Current may have some influence on the climate of Nigeria, the movement of the ITD is the primary factor controlling the onset and cessation of the rainy season in the country.