Investigation of the Earth’s Albedo Using Meteorological Parameters over Maiduguri, Nigeria
D. O. Akpootu *
Department of Physics, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria.
G. M. Argungu
Department of Physics, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria.
M. Umar
Department of Physics, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria.
M. I. Iliyasu
Department of Science Laboratory Technology, Physics Unit, Ummaru Ali Shinkafi Polytechnic Sokoto, Nigeria.
A. Yusuf
Department of Science Education, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai, Nigeria.
N. Muhammad
Department of Physical and Health Education, Shehu Shagari College of Education Sokoto, Nigeria.
S. A. Sidi
Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Ummaru Ali Shinkafi Polytechnic Sokoto, Nigeria.
M. Y. Sani
Department of Science Laboratory Technology, Biology Unit, Ummaru Ali Shinkafi Polytechnic Sokoto, Nigeria.
M. Ibrahim
Department of Physics, Federal College of Education, Gidan Madi, Sokoto State, Nigeria.
Z. Abdullahi
Department of Physics, Adamu Augie College of Education, Kebbi State, Nigeria.
S. Aruna
Department of Physics, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
The present study estimate and investigate the variation of albedo for Maiduguri situated in the Sahelian region of Nigeria, using meteorological data of global solar radiation obtained from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) extending for a period between 1984 to 2021. Investigation was carried out on the variation of albedo with surface temperature, maximum wavelength, clearness index, global solar radiation, relative humidity and mean temperature. The study found that the estimated surface albedo exhibited a direct opposite relationship with the clearness index, an inverse relationship with the emitting Earth’s surface temperature and a direct relationship with the wavelength for the location. The highest value of 0.5125 and lowest value of 0.3344 were found in August and November respectively. The emitting Earth surface temperature ranged between 232.8674 K in August and 251.7177 K in November. This is in agreement with the standard emitting Earth surface temperature (255.0000 K). The values of the maximum emitting wavelength were found to be > 4 indicating longwave radiation which is within the infrared region of the electromagnetic spectrum. The results from this study will be useful for the design of solar energy collectors and researches on atmospheric radiative transfer.
Keywords: Albedo, earth surface temperature, global solar radiation, maximum wavelength, Maiduguri