NIMASA-OAU Climate Change/ Observatory Unit
Institute of Ecology and Environmental Studies
Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria.

Welcome to NIMASA-OAU Climate Change/Observatory Unit, the climatology research centre hosted in the Institute of Ecology and Environmental Studies, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria. The Observatory is served by a dynamic group of multi-disciplinary scientists with research projects linked to all aspects of the climate system. Download the NIMASA-OAU Climate Change/Observatory handbook in PDF format [120KB] for a quick overview of the group.

Introduction

The Climate Change/Observatory Unit was established to strengthen the Institute in creating a multi-disciplinary research environment for climate studies aiming at improving the understanding of atmospheric science. This supports sustainable development in an era when the global community is facing challenges posed by varying dimensions of climate change.

The Climate Change/Observatory Unit, Space Applications and Environmental Science Laboratory (SPAEL), Institute of Ecology and Environmental Studies, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife Institute embarked on capacity development programmes in form of short-term refresher courses, workshops/conferences, seminars as well as outreach activities to staff of the Nigerian Universities, the Nigerian Meteorological Services (NIMET), the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and various national research institutes/study centres on matters of climate change impact assessment and adaptation as well as land-use and coastline management and safety. This is especially important for reducing regional vulnerability to climate change, and for evolving community modeling and weather forecasts to support the activities of the Nigerian Meteorological Services (NIMET).

The Unit consists of two main components viz:

Climate Modelling

Mandate/Objectives

• undertaking a region-wide study on modelling regional climate projections to establish climate change vulnerabilities and adaptation options in agriculture, water resources and health, where impacts of climate change are adjudged high;
• appraising and quantifying the options and scenarios for adaptation, especially in agriculture, water resources conservation and human health sustainability;
• carrying out laboratory/experimental research on the feedback mechanisms between various components of climate system and climate change as well as the effects of climate change on human health, agriculture and water supply, sanitation and management;
• monitoring and documentation of carbon sequestering/ emission and absorption rates in Nigeria
• GIS and space applications research and development; and
• documentation of global weather/climatic data and information from international observatories and data centres.

Weather Monitoring

Mandate/Objectives

• providing accurate weather/climatic information, data and forecasts that include value added services for all application areas of meteorology especially in agriculture, water resources, land and coastline management and as well as health;
• measurements of micro-meteorological parameters such as ground surface and deep ground temperature, surface air temperatures, humidity, soil moisture, net radiation and its components at the surface, global radiation, direct and diffused radiations, wind speed and direction, surface albedo etc; and
• monitoring and measurements of ozone concentration levels, ultraviolet (UV) radiation, Nitric oxide (NO) and major air pollutants in the atmosphere and occupied spaces such as laboratories.

Staff of NIMASA-OAU Climate Change/Observatory Unit

Coordinator of the Unit

Researchers

Mr. Matthew, O. J - Atmospheric Physics/ Regional Climate Modelling

Mr. Odedokun Sola - Climatology and Environmental Studies/GIS

Mr. Adepoju Kayode - Resource Management, Remote Sensing Application/Geographic Information System (GIS)

Mr. Oluyede Olufemi - Geology, Climatology and Environmental Studies

NIMASA-OAU Climate Change/Observatory
Institute of Ecology and Environmental Studies,
Obafemi Awolowo University,
Ile-Ife, Nigeria.

Email:ecology@oauife.edu.ng, ayobasalami@yahoo.com

Tel:+234 (0) 803 376 1041, +234 (0) 807 254 5977