STUDIES ON SURFACE RADIO REFRACTIVITY OVER SOME SELECTED CITIES IN NORTH-CENTRAL, NIGERIA
Abstract
This research investigated the variations of surface radio refractivity and its propagation effects on radio signal over the cities of Abuja and Ilorin, Nigeria. Six years (2015-2020) satellite data of Temperature, Pressure and Humidity both at the surface (12m) and at 100 m AGL, were used for the study. The data retrieved were used to determine the monthly, seasonal and annual surface radio refractivity values for the locations. Results show that the values of surface radio refractivity (Ns) in Abuja was slightly lower than Ilorin with average values of 335.62 and 351.07 N-Units obtained for the six years respectively. Average values of Ns, obtained during the dry season months in Abuja and Ilorin were 299.40 and 321.03(N-units) respectively while average values of 360.24 and 368.21 (N-units) were obtained during the wet season months in Abuja and Ilorin respectively. Higher values of Ns, were recorded generally during wet compared to the dry seasons’ months in all the years and study locations. The implication of this is higher attenuation of radio signal due to Ns during wet compared to the dry seasons’ months and as well as in Ilorin compared to Abuja. Correlation coefficients of -0.53, 0.98 and 0.53 were determined between (Ns) and; temperature, humidity and pressure respectively in Abuja while -0.30, 0.97 and 0.34 were determined between Ns and; temperature, humidity and pressure respectively in Ilorin. The overall findings of this work will be useful to radio engineers for the proper planning of reliable power budget over the study areas.
References
Adediji A.T., and Ajewole M.O. (2008). Vertical profile of radio refractivity gradient in Akure South-West Nigeria. Progress in Electromagnetics Research C, Vol.4,157-168.
Akinbolati, A., and M. O. Ajewole (2020). Investigation of path loss and modeling for digital terrestrial television over Nigeria, Elsevier Heliyon Journal; https:// dol.org/10.1016/j.heliyon. 2020,e04101.
Akinbolati, A., Ajewole, M.O. and Adediji, A. T. (2018), Path Loss Prediction Modeling
for Digital Terrestrial Television (DTTV) in the Tropical Rain Forest Zone of Nigeria, FUDMA Journal of Sciences, 2 (3), 2-8.
Akinwunmi, S.A, Omotosho, T. V., Willoughny A. A., Mandeep J. S. and Abdullah M (2015), Seasonal Variation of Surface radio refractivity and water vapour density for 48 stations in Nigeria, proceedings of the 2015; International conference on space science and communication (Iconspace) Langkarri Malaysia, 1 – 5.
Ayantunji B. G, Okeke P. N., Urama J. O (2011). Diurnal and seasonal variation of surface refractivity over Nigeria. Progress in electromagnetic research B, vol 30, 201-222,2011.
Adewumi A. S, Alade M. O. and Adewumi A. K. (2013), Influence of air temperature, relative humidity and atmospheric moisture on UHF radio propagation in South Western, Nigeria. International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR), 4(8), 1 – 5
Babagana, A. (2020), Origin and Meaning of Abuja the Capital city of Nigeria.
Emetere, M. E., Akinwumi, O. A, Omotoso T. V. and Mandeep, J. S. (2015), A tropical
model for analyzing radio refractivity in selected locations in north central, Nigeria; Proceedings of the 2015 International conference on Space Science and Communication (Iconspace) 10-12, August 2015, Langkani, Malaysia, 1 – 3.
International Telecommunications Union, Radio Study Group (ITU-R), Recommendation on Radio refractivity, ITU-Rec. P. 453(2003-2019)
Oyedum and Gambo. (1994). Surface radio refractivity in Northern Nigeria, Nigerian Journal of Physics, Vol. 6, 36-40.
Okoro O. N and Agbo G.A (2012), The effect of variation of meteorological parameters on the tropospheric radio refractivity for Minna; Global Journals Inc. (US), 1-10.
Olorode D. O. and Adeniji M.A (2013); Regional implication of troposphere surface
refractivity on radio propagation (A case study of Nigeria atmosphere), Advances in Applied Science Research, 4(4), 1 – 3.
Oyedum, O. A., Igwe K. C., Eichie J.O. and Moses A.S (2013), Reduced to sea level refractivity in Minna, North Central Nigeria. Natural and Applied Science Journal, 11(2) 1 – 6.
Copyright (c) 2021 FUDMA JOURNAL OF SCIENCES
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
FUDMA Journal of Sciences