SEASONAL VARIABILITY OF SOME METEOROLOGICAL PARAMETERS WITH RESPECT TO SOLAR ACTIVITY OVER SOME STATIONS IN NIGERIA

Abstract

In this study, we investigated the effects of solar activity on periodic variability of some meteorological parameters for three meteorological stations in Nigeria, from 1980 to 2010. Maximum and minimum temperature, rainfall, relative humidity, evaporation, sunshine duration, solar radiation and windspeed data were used as climate parameters and sunspot numbers data as solar activity indicator. Time series plots of the climatic/meteorological parameters and sunspot numbers were made for each station in order to observe their trend of variations with respect to solar activity effects on the various climatic parameters. The correlation coefficients between the various meteorological variables and solar indices at each station were obtained and given for the considered locations. Results obtained showed that above 95% level of statistically significant
correlations exist between sunspot numbers and some climatic parameters for all the locations considered.