Evaluation of Aerosol Loading and its Relationship with Geopotential Height in Nigeria’s Guinea Coast

Abstract

The aim of this research work is to assess the spatial and temporal distribution of aerosol optical depth over Nigeria’s Guinea Coast (Longitude 3–12°E, Latitude 4–9°N) comparing aerosol loading within the Guinea Coast region of Nigeria, investigating the relationship between aerosol loading and geopotential height, assessing the vertical distribution of aerosol loading and ascertaining the relationship between aerosol loading and observe the effects of meteorological factors on aerosol loading. Aerosol optical depth data was obtained from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectro-radiometer, while the geopotential height and meteorological parameters were retrieved from the Modern-Era Retrospective Analysis for Research and Applications-2 platform. The result obtained showed that aerosol loading/distribution was highest during the dry seasons, especially the coastal areas like Lagos, Warri, and Port Harcourt; this is the season when harmattan dust prevails. Aerosol loading was less in the study location during the dry season because of wet scavenging during this period. Geopotential height values tends to be increasing in the study location. In assessing the vertical distribution of aerosols at different pressure levels, a positive significant association was noticed between aerosol optical depth and geopotential height. It also noted a higher wind speed in the north and the coast of the study region and lower in the south of the region; with the specific humidity pattern at 1000-hpa directly correlating with geopotential height and inversely with wind speed.