Assessing changes in heat index associated with climate variability in Sahelian Cities

Temperature rise, amplified by climate change, has a direct impact on human health, exacerbating the risk of heat-related illnesses, such as heat stroke and dehydration. The ((HI) is a parameter that combines air temperature and relative humidity to assess the degree to which the human body perceives heat. In this study, we used the Steadman Man-Kendall HI equation, Sen's slope estimator to evaluate monthly and annual heat index trends for Kano and Bamako between 1992 and 2022. The results indicated that the heat index exhibited a positive trend of 0.01°C yr^-1, although this trend was less statistically significant with a p-value greater than 0.05. In contrast, a significant negative trend was observed in Bamako, with an annual change of approximately -0.06°C yr^-1. It was also observed that the highest heat index values, demonstrating the risk of heat exhaustion, were recorded between April and May, ranging from 30 and 41°C in Kano and 31 to 42°C in Bamako. In contrast, December, January, and February were the coolest months for both cities, with HI values ranging from 23 °C to 28°C in Kano and 25 °C to 28°C in Bamako. These findings underscore the need for policymakers to adopt adaptive strategies to address the health challenges posed by the extreme Heat Index in vulnerable regions.