Eludoyin OM
The huge literature gap in the knowledge of physiologic climatology on tropical Africa indicates poor awareness to the issue of physiologic stress in the region. This study examined the variability in the physiologic comfort over Nigeria using both annual and hourly patterns of unitary (temperature and relative humidity) and integrative indices (effective temperature, temperature-humidity and relative strain indices), as well as assessing the perceptions of a randomly selected Nigerians in 18 tertiary institutions across the country. Results indicated thermal stress in Nigeria, and showed that both heat and cold stress varied temporally (annually and hourly) and spatially (1200-1500 Local Standard Time, LST as the most thermally uncomfortable period of the day, and ≤ 0900 and around 2100 LST were more comfortable). Perception of the comfortable climate exhibits variation based on the latitudinal location of the respondents but the coping strategies vary with the wealth of individuals. The study indicated that whilst many parts of Nigeria could be vulnerable to physiologic stress, indigenous and modern know-how to cope with future physiologic stress is largely unknown. The study therefore recommends significant improvement in climate-oriented policies, especially in the areas of healthcare and infrastructure.