Summary
Oke (1986) observed“very few studies make comparison of urban-rural vapour pressure or density values”. This observation is particularly true of studies in tropical area. Budding from this situation of inadequacy of investigation is the scientific uncertainty about the true nature of the effect of urbanization on atmospheric vapour content in general. In the light of this situation, a concurrent analysis of the day-time effect of urbanization on both relative humidity and vapour pressure was carried out. A set of data, collected by the Nigerian Department of Meteorology, which covered 730 days (in 1985 and 1986) at two urban stations and a rural surrogate-station was used. The study was limited to day-time because of non-availability of adequate nocturnal data.
Simple frequency analysis of the urban-rural dichotomy was carried out. It was discovered that urbanization had a notable effect on both relative humidity and vapour pressure in the afternoon and during the dry season, as both parameters attenuated considerably during these periods. Of special note was the fact that both measures of humidity were affected by urbanization in the same manner. However, the effect of urbanization on relative humidity was greater.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Ackerman, B., 1971: Moisture content of city and country air. Preprints, Conf. Air Pollution Meteorology, American Meteorological Society, 154–158.
Adebayo, Y. R., 1987: Land-use approach to the spatial analysis of the urban “heat-island” in Ibadan, Nigeria.Weather 42 (9), 272–280.
Ayoade, J. O., 1983:Introduction to Climatology for the Tropics. Chichester: J. Wiley, 258 pp.
Chow, S. D., 1986: Some aspects of the urban climate of Shanghai. In: Proc., Tech. Conf. on Urban Climatology and Its Applications with Special Regard to Tropical Areas. WMO No. 652, Geneva 87–109.
Chow, S. D., Chang, C., 1983: Shanghai Urban influence on humidity and precipitation distribution.J. East China Normal University (Nat. Sci. Ed.),1, 69–84.
Critchfield, H. J., 1974:General Climatology, 3rd ed. New York: Prentice-Hall.
Hayward, D. F., Oguntoyinbo, J. S., 1987:The Climatology of West Africa. London: Hutchinson, 271 pp.
Hage, K. D., 1975: Urban-rural humidity difference.J. Appl. Meteor. 14, 1227–1283.
Jauregui, E., 1971: Meso/micro-climate of Mexico City. Impresta Universitaria Instituto de Geografia UNAM.
Jauregui, E., 1986: The urban climate of Mexico City. In: Proc., Technical Conf. on Urban Climatol. and Its Applications with Special Regards to Tropical Areas. WMO No. 652, Geneva 63–86.
Nieuwolt, S., 1966: The microclimate of Singapore.J. Trop. Geogr. 22, 63–86.
Oguntoyinbo, J. S., 1982: Climatic characteristics. In: Filani, M. O. (ed.) Ibadan Region. Department of Geography, University of Ibadan, Nigeria.
Padmanabhamurty, B., Bahl, H. D., 1982: Some physical features of heat and humidity islands at Delhi.Mausam,33, 211–216.
Oke, T. R., 1986: Urban climatology and the tropical city. In: Proc., Technical Conference on Urban Climatology and Its Applications with Special Regards to Tropical Areas. WMO No. 652, Geneva, 1–25.
WMO, 1986: Conclusions and recommendations of the conference. In: Proc., Technical Conference, WMO No. 652, Geneva, VII–XI.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
With 5 Figures
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Adebayo, Y.R. Day-time effects of urbanization on relative humidity and vapour pressure in a tropical city. Theor Appl Climatol 43, 17–30 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00865039
Received:
Revised:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00865039