Statistical analysis of the effects of relative humidity and temperature on radio refractivity over Nigeria using satellite data

Abstract

Meteorological data from the Department of Satellite Application Facility on Climate Monitoring (CMSAF), DWD Germany have been used to study and investigate the effect of relative humidity and temperature on refractivity in twenty six locations grouped into for climatic regions aloft Nigeria (Coastal, Guinea savannah, Midland and sub Sahelian regions). The four years data collected ranged from 2004 to 2007 and was evaluated on their linear variation of refractivity on both temperature and relative humidity at different atmospheric level. The coefficient of determination (CD) was also determined for each relation. The results obtained establish the seasonal variation of temperature and relative humidity to refractivity across the region especially at low and mid-level. The coefficient of determination at both region is high for the variations measured against relative humidity and refractivity, while that of temperature and refractivity is low. This affirms that changes in relative humidity influence refractivity more than temperature at lower and middle level.

Key words: Refractivity, temperature, humidity, variation, atmospheric