IMPACT ASSESSMENT OF SUBSTANTIVE HYDRO-CLIMATIC VARIABLES ON 2012 FLOOD EXTENT IN YOLA AND ENVIRONS

Abstract

Flood is a seasonal phenomenon which is natural in it hazardous implication and occurs when there is relative high flow over the banks of the streams as a combine consequence of  high recorded data of hydro-climatic related variables in a given geographical area.  Yola North LGA, of Adamawa state had experienced an unprecedented flood in the year 2012 over the past decade which might have been influenced by some hydro-climatic variables and caused devastating effects on lives, properties, farmland and buildings respectively. This study focused on the impact assessment of substantive hydro-climatic variables on 2012 flood event in Yola -North and its environs. The hydro-climatic variables data were obtained from Meteorological station at UBRBDA, Yola for a decade. The amount of rainfall experienced was found to be highest (1085.2mm) in the year 2012 than any other year under consideration (2008-2017) except that of 2016, number of rainy days was highest (81 days) in the year 2012. Similarly, in the month of August in the year 2012 evaporation rate was lowest with about 69 mm than any other month of August in the decade, the annual value of water discharge was highest in the year 2012 over the decade with about 6,340(m3/s), the gauge height was found to be highest with about 7.33 m in the year 2012 and the water level was highest in the month of June, July and September  with the corresponding values of 3.37 m, 3.49 m and 6.58 m compared to similar months in the years of the decade respectively. These increased changes in some hydro-climatic data analyzed might be the fundamental natural factor that causes the unique flooding than any other factor in the year 2012 in the study area and over time posed negative impact on agricultural lands.  Therefore, the study recommends the urgent need to carry out a comprehensive seasonal hydro-climatic data record simulation analysis and variations with a view of taking them as a recipe and strategies of forecasting and predicting the reoccurrence of such phenomenon. The additional meteorological station should be provided by the government agencies in all agricultural zones of the state for adequate and wide range of hydro-climatic data recording for appropriate prediction of weather indices in future.