Comparison of the variation of solar radiation and atmospheric parameters in Kano before, during and after covid-19 lockdown

Abstract

This study compared the variation of solar radiation and atmospheric parameters in Kano, Nigeria before, during, and after the COVID-19 (2019, 2020, and 2021) lockdown. Data was obtained from the Nigeria Meteorological Center (NIMET) in Abuja and MINITAB's time series method and procedures were used to analyze the data. Results showed that Kano witnessed an increased amount of solar radiation during COVID-19 (2020) when compared with the values of solar radiation distribution observed before and after COVID-19 (2019 and 2021). Atmospheric ozone increased slightly in Kano during the period of COVID-19 when compared with the periods before and after COVID-19 in the same area. Relative humidity variations were observed to be lower before and during COVID-19 when compared with the values after COVID-19, whereas temperature and pressure variation distributions were maintained approximately within the same range in the years of study (2019, 2020, and 2021). These findings provide an insight into the effects of the COVID-19 lockdown on solar radiation and atmospheric parameters in Kano.