Background

Observation Site

Scientific Observations

Activity

Motivation

Publications

Data

Station Maintenance

Results

Calibration

Collaboration

Acknowledgements

Photos

Contacts

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Scientific Observations

There is a  need for high quality ground observations of climate parameters in desert regions and areas that are affected by biomass burning and droughts. Such observations are needed for accurately estimating effects of dust on satellite observations. Satellite observations are used to monitor desert migration, and therefore, accurate corrections for atmospheric affects are necessary.

At the Ilorin observation site, monitored are geophysical parameters required for understanding climate change and for supporting current and future satellite observations, that are being obtained under the NASA's Earth Observing System (EOS) program such as CERES and MODIS. Measurement of aerosol optical depth started at the site in 1987. Observation of key components of the surface radiation budget were added in September of 1992 and upgraded in May of 1995. The observations at the Ilorin site are useful for testing cloud masking procedures, atmospheric corrections for satellite retrievals of surface parameters and radiative fluxes.