Authors : Matthew Olumide Adepoju; Hyelpamduwa Yaro; Alaga A. T.; Iliya Joshua Jerome; Tallen Abubakar Sadiq; Nasiru Aliyu; Jibrin Abubakar Babayo; Itse Atang; Agomo Deborah Anyah; Nenkir Judith Lonse; Manu Othniel Kwardam; Baba-Ali Charles Hena; Iliya Richard Zakwoi; Samaila Abdullahi Samad; Eunice Elbi; Eliab Ezekiel; Musa Muhammad Ngudoromma; Felix Sangli Ngantem; A. Abdulkadir; Y. A. Sadeeq; Dinnci Jimmy; Amarachi Flourish Chibueze; Rebecca Elkanah Samanja; Lawenji Nathan; Muktar Garba

Volume/Issue : Volume 11 - 2026, Issue 3 - March

Google Scholar : https://tinyurl.com/w4m2s82c

Scribd : https://tinyurl.com/3p7vs9ym

DOI : https://doi.org/10.38124/ijisrt/26mar669

Note : A published paper may take 4-5 working days from the publication date to appear in PlumX Metrics, Semantic Scholar, and ResearchGate.

Abstract : This study investigated the impact of climatic variability on vegetation dynamics in Jos Plateau State, Nigeria, over a thirty-year period (1994–2024). The specific objectives were to assess the rate of vegetation cover change, examine rainfall and temperature variability patterns, and determine the relationship between vegetation cover dynamics and climatic variables using geospatial techniques. Landsat satellite imagery (TM, ETM+, and OLI) was utilized to derive the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) for vegetation assessment, while rainfall and temperature datasets obtained from NASA were analysed to evaluate climatic trends. Statistical analyses, including trend analysis and Pearson’s Product– Moment Correlation Coefficient, were employed to quantify the relationships between vegetation cover and climatic parameters. The findings revealed a substantial decline in vegetation cover from 994.55 km² in 1994 to 440.41 km² in 2024, representing a 55.7% reduction. This decline corresponded with a noticeable decrease in rainfall, which dropped from 62.59 mm to 48.37 mm, and a steady increase in average temperature from 22.04°C to 24.45°C over the same period. Correlation results indicated a strong negative relationship between vegetation cover and temperature, and a positive relationship between vegetation cover and rainfall. The study concludes that climatic variability, compounded by anthropogenic activities such as rapid urbanization, deforestation, and land-use change, has significantly contributed to vegetation degradation in the study area. These findings highlight the urgent need for integrated land-use management, reforestation initiatives, and climate adaptation strategies to mitigate ongoing environmental degradation and promote sustainable ecosystem resilience in Jos Plateau State.

Keywords : Climate Variability, Vegetation Dynamics, NDVI, Landsat Imagery, Rainfall Variability, Temperature Trends, Geospatial Analysis, Jos Plateau State Nigeria.

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