Atmospheric precipitable water in Jos, Nigeria

Abstract

Data from the Agro-meteorological station, Department of Geography and Planning, University of Jos (latitude: 09o 57/ N, longitude: 08o 53/ E and altitude: 1,159m above msl), for the periods 1992 to 2002, have been used for this investigation. The correlations between the natural logarithm of the precipitable water vapour PWV, and the dew-point temperature Td, and also relative humidity h, were investigated. Multiple regressions analysis was done on PWV and clearness index Kt, sunshine index S and relative humidity h. Results show a new logarithmic relationship between PWV and h and that the maximum precipitable water vapour in the atmosphere of Jos in the month of August has a value of 4.44±0.47cm, while the minimum of 1.54±0.47cm was found in the month of February. The regression models have been presented and discussed.

Keywords: Precipitable water vapour, dew-point temperature, relative humidity.

Nigerian Journal of Physics Vol. 18 (1) 2006: pp. 101-110