Research Article
Akinyemi M. L.
Abstract
The effect of zonal and meridional wind on surface ozone variability in Nigeria in the four quarter of the year was explored using data from Atmospheric Infrared sounder (AIRS) of NASA. Namely, December, January, February (DJF); March, April, May (MAM); June, July, August (JJA) and September, October, November (SON). The study revealed that both the day and night time surface ozone distribution in DJF season recorded a significant correlation of 0.7 with the zonal wind flow pattern, and a less significant correlation of 0.36 with the meridional wind flow pattern. Average maximum ozone concentration of 281.4DU southward and 260.3DU northward were observed in DJF. In JJA, the meridional wind pattern recorded strong west to east flow which was non-parallel to the latitudinal lines. It had a significant negative-correlation of – 0.56 with the ozone distribution for that season. Also the JJA zonal wind flow unlike that of DJF, recorded significant west to east flow resulting in partial atmospheric blocking which constrained the maximum ozone concentration westward with an average of 307DU retained within longitudes 2oE - 6oE in western Nigeria, for all the seven years studied. This was contrary to the direction of the prevailing meridional flow for the season which was predominantly eastward.