Diminishing Atmospheric Carbon Monoxide fluxes as a Forecast of the New Planting Season in West Africa
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This paper studied the variability of background Carbon Monoxide CO fluxes from 2000 to 2010 as
released by satellite observatory system from the Measurement of Pollution in the Troposphere
(MOPITT) instrument over the West African region, from latitude 2o N to 15 o N. From the twelve
months of the year studied, the data for December and January to April followed a particular trend
which was observed to be relevant in the forecasting of the following planting season over the region.
The study revealed that the background CO fluxes averaged about 300ppbv in December and
January and gradually reduces to about 220ppbv and 170ppbv in March and April respectively. This
trend was observed in the ten years studied. It could be suggested thus that an average 35% to 45%
decrease in December/January CO fluxes accumulation is a pointer to the beginning of the next
planting season in the West African region. It was also observed that as the background CO flux
dwindled, the locations of high CO concentrations due to fossil fuel combustions and other
anthropogenic activities were more distinct in comparison to the rest of the region.
Keywords
QC Physics