Abstract
The surface refractivity(SF) is essential in estimating the performance of terrestrial radio links. In the troposphere, there are lots of meteorological updraft and downdraft that influence the refractive index. In this study, we examine the seasonal variation of an emerging community in Lagos to design a reliable and efficient radio communication system based on the meteorological parameters.Thirty-nine years dataset between 1980-2018 was used to examine both the surface refractivity and the meteorological drivers that determine the SF patterns. It was observed that early wet season and late dry season were seen to have higher SF values, i.e., 262.03 N-unit and 262.07 N-unit respectively, while early dry and late wet had lower SF, i.e., 261.71 and 261.76 respectively. It is now possible to use the weather forecast to predict the likely SF pattern over the tropics.
Highlights
Surface refractivity refers to the refractive index of the earth's atmosphere and is generally estimated using the earth’s surface temperature, humidity, and pressure
We examine the seasonal variation of an emerging community in Lagos to design a reliable and efficient radio communication system based on the meteorological parameters.Thirty-nine years dataset between 1980-2018 was used to examine both the surface refractivity and the meteorological drivers that determine the SF patterns
Its variation in the troposphere is observed to be small but plays an important role in radio wave propagation.salient parameters in radio wave propagationattenuation such as scintillation, fading, and ducting depend on the refractive index[1].The refractive index is essential in estimating the performance of terrestrial radio links
Summary
Surface refractivity refers to the refractive index of the earth's atmosphere and is generally estimated using the earth’s surface temperature, humidity, and pressure. The quantum mechanical molecular resonance of the nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide, and water vapour is unique in an open system as it varies diurnally and seasonally. Emetere et al [5] postulated that since aerosol loading over West Africa is significantly based on satellite imagery, the determination of surface refractivity would not depend on the quantum mechanical molecular resonance of the nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide and water vapour but the aerosol influx. Amajama et al [6] postulated thatradio signals and refractivity could be negatively impacted by wind direction This postulation may be strange, but when compared to the postulation of Babatunde and Israel [7]that showed that north-south movement of the Inter-tropical discontinuity (ITD) influences the variation of surface refractivity, it is clear that the agents that drive weather variability are potent to determine the variations in surface refractivity.
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