Precipitation Concentration Changes in Owerri and Enugu

Abstract

The precipitation concentration index (PCI) of Owerri and Enugu for 1974 to 2011 was computed. The PCI was estimated on an annual and seasonal scale. The seasonal estimation were based on the categorisation of the seasons in eastern Nigeria into long wet season, short wet season, short dry season and dry season. The results of the PCI computed for Owerri showed that 87% of the years for which annual PCI was computed fell within the moderate concentration category range, while for Enugu 71% of the years fell within the moderate concentration category. For the long wet season for the study period, 74% and 66% of the years fell within the uniform precipitation concentration category at Owerri and Enugu, respectively, while 13% of the years at Owerri, and 16% of the years at Enugu fell within the moderate precipitation category. Information derived from the PCI computation can be used for hydrological, water resources and environment management programmes, as well as serve as a warning tool for disaster preparedness in relation to flooding and erosion.