Summary
This study presents the results of an analysis of the dewfall features of a tropical station. The importance of dewfall cannot be overemphasized, especially during the dry season when plants are under seriously stress. A positive correlation was found between dewfall and rainfall. Dew formation was found to peak on a diurnal basis between 6 a.m. to 8 a.m., suggesting that some steering mechanism is required for dew formation at this station. Dew formation starts later at night during the dry season but much earlier during the rainy season. The August anomaly already highlighted by Ireland showed up in dew formation as there was a marked reduction in dew formation in that month.
Zusammenfassung
Diese Untersuchung behandelt den Tauabsatz einer tropischen Station. Die Bedeutung des Taus kann nicht überbetont werden, besonders in der Trockenzeit, wenn die Pflanzen unter starkem Wasserstress stehen. Es fand sich ein positiver Zusammenhang zum Niederschlag. Im Tagesgang liegt das Maximum der Taubildung zwischen 6 und 8 Uhr, was einen steuernden Prozeß zugrunde liegen haben dürfte. In der Trockenzeit beginnt die Taubildung später als in der Regenzeit. Die schon von Ireland hervorgehobene Anomalie im August mit deutlich geringeren Werten zeigte sich auch hier.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Baier W (1966) Studies on dew formation under semiarid conditions. Agric Met 3: 103–112
Duvdevani S (1964) Dew in Israel and its effect on plants. Soil Science 98: 14–21
Ireland AW (1962) The little dry season of southern Nigeria. Nig Geog J 5: 7–21
Jennings EG, Monteith JL (1954) A sensitive recording dew-balance. Quart J R Met Soc 80: 222–226
Jones RL (1957) The effect of surface wetting on the transpiration of leaves. Physiol Plantarum 166: 281–288
Lehmann, Schander H (1942) Tau und Reif, Pflanzen-wetterkundliche Untersuchungen. Wiss Abh Reichswetterd Berlin 9: 1–20
Lloyd MG (1961) The contribution of dew to the summer water budget of northern Idaho. Bull Am Met Soc 42: 572–580
Monteith JL (1957) Dew. Quart J R Met Soc 83: 322–341
Obasi GOP (1965) Atmospheric synoptic and climatological features over the West African region. Nigerian Meteorological Services, Tech Note No 28
Ojo O (1977) The climate of West Africa. Heinemann Press, London
Papadaki J (1961) Crop ecology in West Africa. FAOUN Pub MR/16439/1, vol 2
Piseck A, Cartellieri E (1939) Zur Kenntnis des Wasserhaushaltes der of lanzon 4 Bauine and Straucher. Jb Wiss Botan 88: 22–68
Raiman CRV (1973) Dew over India and its contribution to winter crop water balance. Agric Met 11: 17–35
Slatyer RO, McIlroy IC (1961) Practical microclimatology. UNESCO C.S.I.R.O., Canberra A.C.T.
Slatyer RO (1967) Plant-water relationships. Academic Press, New York
Stone EC (1957) Dew as an ecological factor. II. The effect of artificial dew on the survival ofPinus ponderosa and associated species. Ecology 38: 414–422
Thornthwaite CW (1948) An approach towards rational classification of climate. Geogr Rev 38: 55–94
Waggoner PE, Begg JE, Turner NC (1969) Evaporation of dew. Agric Met 6: 103–112
Walter H (1936) The ökologischen Verhältnisse in der Namib-Nebelwüste (Südwestafrika). Jb Wiss Botan 84: 58–222
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
With 3 Figures
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Salau, O.A., Lawson, T.L. Dewfall features of a tropical station: The case of Onne (Port Hartcourt), Nigeria. Theor Appl Climatol 37, 233–240 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00867580
Received:
Revised:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00867580