Variation of Microwave Radio Refractivity Profiles with Temperature over Akure, Nigeria

Abstract

A Preliminary result of the measurement of radio meteorological parameters for the profiling of radio refractivity over Akure, Nigeria, is presented. One year (January-December 2018) data of temperature, pressure, and relative humidity were collected for ground surface and heights of 50, 100, 150, and 200 m respectively from the ongoing measurement of the parameters by Communication Physics Research Group of the Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria. From the data collected, radio refractivity, N were computed, and correlation of N with temperature was evaluated. Results showed that the mean value of surface refractivity obtained during this period of study is 365 N-units while that at the elevated altitudes are: 362, 359, 357, and 354 N-units respectively. It was also deduced that radio refractivity decrease with an increase in height, and its values were generally higher during the rainy season (April - October) than in the dry season months (November -March). Correlation between N and temperature was high during the wet season and low during the dry season.