Analysis of Aerosols in West Africa: Modelling and Radiative Forcing

Abstract

We studied the aerosol properties in Cinzana and Ilorin in West Africa using data of aerosols’ properties over the period 2000–2015 from MODIS (Moderate resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer). There has been limited report on the comparison between this two West African Stations. The time series modelling, prediction of aerosol parameters and the estimation of aerosol radiative forcing (ARF) were focused on. Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software was used for the modelling the monthly averaged measurements of aerosol optical depth at 550 nm (τ550), Angstrom exponent at 470 – 660 nm (α470-660), cloud fraction (Ncloud), fine mode fraction (FMF) and single scattering albedo at 470 nm (ωo) data over the two stations while the ARF values were calculated. The generated time series models are all good fit and the values are biased, both negatively and positively. The ARF of the two stations’ aerosol data shows value between 0.0 and -750.0 W/m2 for Ilorin and -10.0 to -200. 0 W/m2, which results mainly in cooling. Although there is a difference between ARF values in the two stations, both stations demonstrated clear seasonal variation with the rainy season having the least negative aerosol forcing. The results suggest that the aerosols are predominantly mineral dust, but those in Cinzana have more absorbing properties than those in Ilorin. Overall, the research shows that the modelled parameters can be utilized in lieu of the measured data and that the solar radiation received in this region has been attenuated at various degrees