Temperatures in the Lagunes district of Ivory Coast have not deviated that much from the norm over the past three months.
For the most part, temperatures since June have been above average. However, September has seen the average temperature drop to the lower end of the average range, and below.
This cooling over the last thirty days has affected both maximum and minimum temperatures, but has been more pronounced for the daily maxima.
In practical terms, the cooler daytime temperatures had no impact on the photosynthetic efficiency of the leaves and certainly slowed down leaf ageing.
However, if this cooling continues for another 2-3 weeks, lower nighttime temperatures may result in a significant slowdown in canopy renewal and may cause slower pod maturation if sustained for longer.
