Influence of Urbanisation on Minimum and Maximum Temperature characteristics over Nairobi City

Ndolo Isaac John * , Nzioka John Muthama ** , Christopher Oludhe *** , John Kinyuru Ng’ang’a *** and Richard S. Odingo *

*Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, University of Nairobi

**Wangari Maathai Institute for Peace and Environmental Studies, University of Nairobi

***Department of Meteorology, University of Nairobi

https://doi.org/10.20987/jccs.1.04.2018

Corresponding Author

Ndolo Isaac John

E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

(Received 4 August 2017, received in revised form 7 December 2017, Accepted 11 April 2018)

Abstract

Urban Heat Island being the most investigated aspect of urban climate is not prominently investigated in tropical African urban areas. This paper seeks to address the influence of urbanization on outdoor temperature characteristics in the city of Nairobi. Monthly minimum and maximum temperature data from four ground based weather stations namely, Dagoretti Corner (DC), Wilson Airport (WA), Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) and Moi Air Base (MAB) stations over a 47 year period from 1961 to 2007 were used. The data were subjected to time series analysis. Station to station correlation analysis was performed as an indicator of the linear association of station records and also to understand spatial variability. Spatial analysis of temperature across the city pointed out that the most representative station in studying the urban canopy characteristics of the city of Nairobi is MAB. The minimum temperature across the city shows a significant positive trend. This may be attributed to urbanization effect. Among all the four stations, only DC exhibited a significant positive trend of maximum temperature. Trend analysis revealed that there was significant minimum temperature increase of 0.430C with a significant maximum temperature increase of 0.11C per decade during the 47 year period. This is a strong evidence of temperature modification due to urbanization. Comparative analysis of temperatures across the city of Nairobi depict heterogeneity among the four weather stations, with MAB being the hottest while DC is the coldest. Therefore, the microclimate of Nairobi is not homogeneous and implications of urbanization on planning of climate sensitive structures and services should be area specific. Further analysis to establish Urban Heat Island (UHI) characteristics of the city in future is recommended especially with availability of more weather stations around the city of Nairobi and adjacent rural areas.

Keywords: UHI, Minimum and Maximum temperature, Trend

Full Text:

Download Full Text (pdf)

 



Get In Touch

KENYA METEOROLOGICAL SOCIETY (KMS)
Physical Address: Kenya Meteorological Department (KMD) Dagoretti Corner along Ngong Road, next to the Institute for Meteorological Training and Research (IMTR) Library.
Postal Address: P. O. BOX 41959 - 00100
Nairobi, Kenya

Mobile: +254 71 708 9394

Phone 1: +254 20 214 7770

Phone 2: +254 20 386 7880

Fax:     +254 20 387 6955

Email 1:  info@kms.or.ke,

Email 2: kmsmails2@gmail.com

Top