Spatio-Temporal Assessment of Climate in Response to Solar Radiation Changes over Nigeria Using Satellite Data

Aondoakaa Solomon Igbalumun,Abiem Louis Tersoo,Igbawua Tertsea

doi:10.11648/j.ijees.20200502.12

Abstract

Spatiotemporal assessment of climate elements in response to solar radiation changes is vital for understanding the interaction between solar energy budget and climate over Nigeria. In this work, the spatio-temporal assessment of climate changes in response to solar radiation budget was done using regression and correlation analysis on satellite remote sensing and gridded observation data. The satellite data sets include; the Top Net Solar radiation data, obtained from European Medium Range Weather Forecast Reanalysis version 5 data set (ERA5) and Extended Reconstructed Sea Surface (ERSST) data set. The gridded observation climate data sets were obtained from Climate Research Unit (CRU) of University of East Anglia. The 250 x 250 m Digital Elevation data sets were obtained from Shuttle Radar Topographic Mission (SRTM). Results showed the Top net solar radiation (J/m<sup>2</sup>), precipitation and temperature indicated trends (R-square values) of 8643.9 (0.08), -0.287 (0.06) and 0.019 (0.26) per year respectively. The correlation between Top net radiation and temperature shows, 7, 2 and 91% pixels to be negatively, zero and positively correlated while the correlation between Top net radiation and precipitation shows, 71, 8 and 21% pixels respectively to be negatively, zero and positively correlated. Results shows that there was no direct relationship between Elnino Southern Oscillation (ENSO) but arguably, temperature showed indirect relationship with Top net solar radiation. Also, residual analysis was applied to delineate areas that have no direct relationship between radiation and climate parameters.

Highlights

Energy is essential for the economic and sociodevelopmental activities of humans. This has made power generation one of the major challenges faced by humans in the 21st century, as the dependence on conventional energy sources of power generation tend to poise threats to human safety and existence
The International Energy Agency stated in 2014 that about 620 million people living in sub – Saharan Africa have no access to electricity, and the supply is inadequate, costly and unreliable for the few who have it
There are a lot of river networks in Nigeria, most settlements are located at the banks of some rivers or streams

Summary

Introduction

Energy is essential for the economic and sociodevelopmental activities of humans This has made power generation one of the major challenges faced by humans in the 21st century, as the dependence on conventional energy (fossil fuel and nuclear reactors) sources of power generation tend to poise threats to human safety and existence. Apart from that, the use of wood as a fuel source leads to the continuous falling of trees that causes desert encroachment, erosion and loss of soil fertility, which in turn affects climatic conditions. This has made the continent of Africa most vulnerable to the impacts of climate changes [2]

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Results