Analysis of data on net longwave, shortwave, and global radiation during a transition period in a tropical station in southwestern Nigeria

Abstract

This paper examines the distribution of the surface radiation balance components measured during the Nigerian Micrometeorological Experiment (NIMEX-1), a field study conducted to measure surface heat fluxes in the boundary layer during the transition period which marks the end of dry season and the onset of wet season (February 15 and March 10, 2004) in the southwestern part of Nigeria. Regression equations were obtained using the daily average values and hourly mean values between net shortwave and net longwave radiation, respectively, with the global radiation. Higher correlations with low standard error of measurement were obtained for daily mean values than the hourly mean. It was also observed that the peak values of each type of radiation during the period occurred, on average, two hours after noon when it was expected to occur.