CLIMATE CHANGE AND VARIABILITY IN RIVER FLOW PATTERN IN THE SEMI ARID ENVIRONMENT (A CASE OF RIVER RIMA, SOKOTO)

This study looked at the parameters influencing the flow rate of River Rima. It involves a field survey through measurement of depth, width and the discharge of the river. The secondary data included the discharge of the River from 1962-1971 at Wammako gauging station obtained from Sokoto Rima River Basin Development Authority and the rainfall data collected from Sultan Abubakar International Airport. Data collected from both authorities were correlated using Pearson Correlation Coefficient. These data were also correlated with the stage (discharge) and rainfall data of 2008, using Spearman's rank correlation. The study revealed that there is very little relationship between rainfall and the discharge velocity of the three points. It also revealed that there is a very strong relationship between the hydro geometric factors (depth and width) and the discharge. As such the study recommends that the periodicity nature of the River Rima should be monitored with care by the authorities concerned, it also recommended that for future study on variable flow rate there will be need for use of modern technology such as remote sensing and Geographical information system (G.I.S) for such study.