Changes in meteorological parameters in Nigeria by different manifestations of solar activities

Abstract

The annual mean solar indices of MgII core to core wing ratio, solar flux 10.7 cm and sunspot number over an eleven (11) year period, 2000 – 2010, were correlated with the annual mean rainfall, maximum temperature, relati-ve humidity, cloud cover and wind speed of 8 meteorological stations in Nigeria. Correlation analyses were perfo-rmed to determine relationships between the solar indices and the meteorological parameters at the same temporal scale. In general, weak correlation and significant levels were exhibited between solar indices and meteorological parameters, except Sokoto, Ilorin and Yola, where there were strong negative and positive correlations with high level of significance between solar indices and meteorological parameters. The observations indicated that increa-sed solar activities might have contributed to decrease in rainfall, cloud cover, and relative humidity; but elevated maximum temperature; implying that variability of solar indices affected galactic cosmic radiation reaching the earth’s atmosphere.

Keywords: MgII core to core wing ratio, Solar flux, Sunspot number, Solar activities, Meteorological parameters, Correlation coefficient