Ndem Peter, Biose Osadebe, Effiong Eyo, Udegbe Selina, Ukpebor Justina E, Ifijen Ikhazuagbe H, Ukpebor Emmanuel E
National Centre for Energy and Environment, Energy Commission of Nigeria, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria.
Air Pollution Research Group, Department of Chemistry, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria.
Environ Monit Assess. 2025 Jul 18;197(8):925. doi: 10.1007/s10661-025-14356-0.
In the first quarter of 2024, the Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NIMET) reported an unprecedented heat wave characterized by prolonged periods of elevated temperature and humidity, with mean atmospheric temperatures of 41 °C and 39 °C forecasted for the northern and southern regions, respectively. This preliminary study investigates the ambient concentrations of carbon dioxide (CO₂) and methane (CH₄), two potent greenhouse gases (GHGs) implicated in global warming and climate change, within Benin City under extreme thermal conditions. Sampling was conducted across 11 strategically selected sites with high emission potential, utilizing pre-calibrated electrochemical sensors specific to each gas. Meteorological parameters, including temperature, humidity, and wind speed, were concurrently measured to assess their influence on GHG distributions. The mean CO₂ concentration recorded for the city was 525.80 ppm, surpassing the latest reported global average of 427.48 ppm, thereby contributing to the global CO₂ burden given its prolonged atmospheric residence time (~ 120 years). Spatial analysis revealed statistically significant variations (p < 0.05), with the highest mean CO₂ level (604.80 ppm) observed in high-density open market zones, where uncontrolled combustion of municipal solid waste and severe traffic congestion dominate local emissions. Notably, this sector has been associated with poor air quality and a low life expectancy (~ 53 years) in the region. CH₄ concentrations were below detectable limits at all sampling locations, likely due to minimal anthropogenic emissions within the city. Meteorological assessments confirmed extreme thermal conditions, with a city-wide mean temperature of 37.0 °C exceeding the 35 °C heat wave threshold. Humidity levels averaged 64.6%, while wind speeds ranged from 0.1 to 7.4 m/s, indicating weak atmospheric dispersion potential. Statistical analysis revealed a significant positive correlation between CO₂ and humidity (r = 0.817, p < 0.01), whereas weak negative correlations were observed between CO₂ and both temperature (r = - 0.342) and wind speed (r = - 0.144). These findings underscore the complex interplay between meteorological dynamics and greenhouse gases (GHG) accumulation, highlighting the need for targeted mitigation strategies to address urban emissions under extreme climate conditions.
2024年第一季度，尼日利亚气象局（NIMET）报告称出现了前所未有的热浪，其特点是气温和湿度长期居高不下，预计北部和南部地区的平均大气温度分别为41摄氏度和39摄氏度。这项初步研究调查了极端热条件下贝宁城空气中二氧化碳（CO₂）和甲烷（CH₄）这两种与全球变暖和气候变化相关的强效温室气体（GHGs）的浓度。在11个具有高排放潜力的战略选定地点进行了采样，使用了针对每种气体预先校准的电化学传感器。同时测量了包括温度、湿度和风速在内的气象参数，以评估它们对温室气体分布的影响。该城市记录的平均CO₂浓度为525.80 ppm，超过了最新报告的全球平均水平427.48 ppm，鉴于其在大气中的长期停留时间（约120年），这加剧了全球CO₂负担。空间分析显示出统计学上的显著差异（p < 0.05），在高密度露天市场区域观察到最高的平均CO₂水平（604.80 ppm），那里城市固体废物的无控制燃烧和严重的交通拥堵主导了当地排放。值得注意的是，该地区这一部门与空气质量差和低预期寿命（约53岁）有关。所有采样地点的CH₄浓度均低于可检测限，这可能是由于城市内人为排放极少。气象评估证实了极端热条件，全市平均温度为37.0摄氏度，超过了35摄氏度的热浪阈值。湿度平均为64.6%，风速范围为0.1至7.4米/秒，表明大气扩散潜力较弱。统计分析显示CO₂与湿度之间存在显著正相关（r = 0.817，p < 0.01），而CO₂与温度（r = -0.342）和风速（r = -0.144）之间观察到弱负相关。这些发现强调了气象动态与温室气体（GHG）积累之间的复杂相互作用，突出了在极端气候条件下制定针对性减排策略以应对城市排放的必要性。
