RELATION BETWEEN GLOBAL RADIATION AND FOOD PRODUCTION IN A HUMID TROPICAL CLIMATE OF WEST AFRICA

Obvious is the fact that globally the climate is changing. Solar energy and water availability are the key factors affecting agricultural productivity in Subtropical Africa. In this paper is presented the global radiation for Owerri, Nigeria (latitude 5.48oN, longitude 7.03oE) between 1985-1997 which has a mean annual value of 76.17 W/m2 per day. With appropriate crop specie selection and management, food production, including poultry output can be boosted in this high solar radiation area. The introduction of solar egg incubator, solar manure dryer and brooder has been strongly advocated

Political will and collaboration for electric power reform through renewable energy in Africa

Climate change, in particular rainfall variability, affects rain-dependent agriculture in Africa. The resulting food shortages, in combination with rising population and lack of access to electricity needed for development, require the governments and people of Africa to consider renewable energy sources. One example that has high potential in Africa is solar energy. Many African governments have begun discussions about renewable energy but tangible results have yet to materialize. This research contributes to the governmental efforts by presenting the solar electricity potentials for some African cities. Using photovoltaic geographical information system (PVGIS) data, it is clear that there is enough electricity for urban and rural dwellers if there is political will and if the solar panels are mounted at the suggested optimal angles ranging from 8-34°. The solar irradiation at all sites was higher than the typical daily domestic load requirement of 2324 Wh/m2 in urban and rural areas. We provide a strong rationale for political will, collaboration and transparent energy policies that will ensure that life is enhanced through the use of environmentally-friendly renewable energy technologies such as solar power.Political will Renewable energy Africa

Characterization of aerosol loading in urban and suburban locations: Impact on atmospheric extinction

The study of atmospheric aerosols remains a very strong factor in the understanding of the Earth’s climate and predicting the air quality within any given environment. In view of this, analysis of aerosol characteristics measured using AERONET sun photometer, MODIS, Cloud-Aerosol Lidar with Orthogonal Polarization, AIRS and TOMS/OMI sensors, over six distinctly different environments in Nigeria for a period of 10 years was carried out. The results revealed significant regional and temporal variation. It showed that different aerosol types impact differently on atmospheric extinction properties. The result further revealed that aerosol loading peaks in the south and middle belt regions during the dry season (November–March), while the reverse was the case in the north during the rainy season (April–October). It was found out that coarse aerosols prevail all year round within these regions, with the rate of occurrence varying with season. The range of the ratio of coarse-to-fine aerosol was found to be as high as 19:1 during the rainy season in Sokoto and Maiduguri, and 3:1 during the dry season. In Abuja and Ilorin, it ranged from 13:1 to 2:1 in both seasons. The atmospheric extinction values plotted against relative humidity (RH) showed that extinction grows at very low RH of about 45% in a less anthropogenic polluted environment (north), while a RH of 60% and above is required for growth to take place in a more polluted environment in the south. This implies that the use of rain water for drinking and other domestic purposes should be done with caution