Theory question 104
Nigeria: Physical Setting(a) Draw an outline map of Nigeria. On the map, show and name: (i) the position of Tropical Maritime air mass (S.W. Winds) in July; (ii) the position of Inter Tropical Convergence Zone (I. T. C. Z) in July; (iii) the relative position of Tropical Continental air mass (N. E. Winds) in July; (iv) three towns located in 4(a)(i) above. (b) State four characteristics of the wet season in Nigeria. (c) List two cash crops grown during the wet season in Nigeria.
Show the model answer
(a) Map: in July the ITCZ lies far north, near the northern border of Nigeria (about latitude 20°N, north of Nigeria or across its far north); the south-west (Tropical Maritime) winds cover almost the whole country south of it, shown by arrows from the Atlantic; the north-east (Tropical Continental) winds lie north of the ITCZ; three towns in the SW-wind zone, e.g. Lagos, Ibadan, Enugu, Port Harcourt, Kano.
(b) Tropical maritime air mass (south-west winds) blows over the country; heavy rainfall, decreasing from south to north; high relative humidity; cloudy skies; slightly lower temperatures than in the dry season; thunderstorms and line squalls at its start and end; longer in the south (up to 8-9 months) than the north (3-4 months); little August break in the south-west.
(c) Cocoa, cotton, groundnuts, rubber, oil palm, soya beans, ginger, sesame.
Put the July ITCZ well to the north.