A COMPARISON OF METEOROLOGICAL DATA FROM TWO DIFFERENT AUTOMATIC WEATHER STATIONS (AWS) IN AKURE, NIGERIA

Abstract

This research studied the characterizing measurement of the state of art of two (2) automatic weather stations (AWS) sited side by side, Campbell and Trans African Hydro Meteorological Observatory (Tahmo) at Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA) (Long. 7.25710And Lat.5.20580) and examined by comparison the relationship between weather parameters observed from the two weather stations. Wind speed, wind direction, Relative humidity, air temperature, solar radiation and soil moisture measured by both Campbell and Trans African Hydro Meteorological Observatory (Tahmo) reveals similar variation all through the period. The wind speed for Campbell station (about 1.6 m/s) was 30% higher than that of Tahmo station (about 1.3 m/s), Campbell appear to be more sensitive to the variation in wind speed (m/s). The data recorded by Tahmo tends to be slightly lower than that of Campbell which is not due to location where both station are sited since both are approximately sited in the same location of relatively low vegetation. The wind direction also showed similar variation throughout the period. Tahmo station has higher recorded values of 3350and the least of 00 while Campbell has the highest recorded value of 2700 and also the least value of 00(Tahmo is 35% higher than Campbell). The wind rose at the Campbell station shows that the winds blows from the Southwest and has the highest frequency of about 43%, which was higher than that of the Tahmo station and the lowest of about 5%. Campbell station is approximately calm and has a mean of 90%. Tahmo station has higher air temperature and has maximum recorded air temperature of about 35.8oC and the lowest value of about 14.8oC while Campbell station has maximum recorded air temperature of about 35.2oC and the lowest value of about 15.0oC, Campbell station tends to record highestpercentage of about 98%relative humidity between the months of April and May and a higher percentage of relativity humidity all through the period of research while Tahmo station tends to record its highest percentage of 90% relative humidity in the month of February and the lowest of about 35% in the month of January, which drops and rises until October when it continues to drop. Generally, the difference between the relative humidity of the two stations is 8% (i.e Campbell station has 8% relative humidity more than Tahmo station). The variation of radiation for the two stations shows similar distribution, as both tends to peak at almost the same time. Campbell station tends to record the highest radiation value of about 270 W/m2in February and lowest value of 0 W/m2in the month of April while Tahmo also tends to record its highest radiation value of about 250 W/m2in February and its lowest value of about 0 W/m2 in the month of September.Generally Campbell station is 20% higher than Tahmo station. The variation of soil moisture (m3/m3) for the two stations shows similar distribution, as both tends to peak and decline at almost the same time. Campbell station tends to record the highest soil moisture value of about 0.25 m3/m3in October and lowest value of about 0.8 m3/m3 in the month of January while Tahmo tends to record the highest soil moisture value of about 0.35m3/m3 also in October and lowest value of about 0.1 m3/m3also in the month of January. Tahmo station recorded 10% value higher than Campbell station.