TITLE:
Investigating Contributions of Total Column Ozone Variation on Some Meteorological Parameters in Nigeria
AUTHORS:
Eucharia Chidinma Okoro, Francisca Nneka Okeke, Lilian Chinenyenwa Omeje
KEYWORDS:
Total Column Ozone, Temperature, Rainfall, Seasonal, Correlation
JOURNAL NAME:
Atmospheric and Climate Sciences,
Vol.12 No.1,
January
20,
2022
ABSTRACT: The relationship between some meteorological
parameters and variation of total column ozone (TCO) concentration in Nigeria
is studied from 1998-2012. The results using a descriptive analysis revealed
a seasonal ozone variation having the same trend in all the stations during the
period of study. High variability of TCO occurred between December and March
coinciding with the period of dry season and low variability of TCO was
observed in August coinciding with the period of rainy season. The observed
trends in all the stations show that the TCO variation in Nigeria is mostly
caused by natural occurrences. Calabar and Port Harcourt stations showed a high
percent of TCO variability, while Kano and Maiduguri indicated a low percentage
of TCO variability. Using Spearman correlation analysis, TCO concentration has
a strong negative correlation with temperature in some stations with
correlation coefficient (r) (-0.8392, -0.8531, -0.7832, -8881 and -0.7902) for
Calabar, Port Harcourt, Makurdi, Lagos and Ilorin respectively. Kano and Maiduguri
showed a weak positive correlation coefficient (r) 0.4965 and 0.3776
respectively. Positive correlation observed in Kano and Maiduguri could be as a
result of high dehydration of water vapour in these stations due to seasonal
harmattan and latitudinal effects. Probably, some of the substances that could
deplete ozone such as HCl, aerosol are soluble in water thereby being washed
off by rain during wet season leading to
maximum TCO concentration during rainy season. Consequently, the observed phenomenon is through transportation of
ozone content through the influence of Brewer-Dobson circulation. Again,
during wet season, there is the mechanism
of low pressure and lower tropopause height phenomenon, therefore, total
ozone enhancement. Interestingly, variation in TCO is part of symbolic tools
for tropospheric meteorology alteration and this invariably leads to climate
change.