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Reflection coefficient of natural vegetation, crops and urban surfaces in Nigeria
Author(s) -
Oguntoyinbo J. S.
Publication year - 1970
Publication title -
quarterly journal of the royal meteorological society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.744
H-Index - 143
eISSN - 1477-870X
pISSN - 0035-9009
DOI - 10.1002/qj.49709640907
Subject(s) - latitude , vegetation (pathology) , temperate climate , haze , reflection (computer programming) , environmental science , atmospheric sciences , northern hemisphere , physical geography , geography , geology , meteorology , ecology , geodesy , biology , medicine , pathology , computer science , programming language
Reflection coefficients measured over a wide variety of natural and agricultural vegetation surfaces in Nigeria (lat. 4° 40′ to 13° 30′N) were between 0.05 7 to 0.25 1 ; and were inversely related to the vegetation height. Considerable seasonal differences were found with unexpected low values of reflectivity during the harmattan haze in the dry season. Possible reasons for these seasonal differences are discussed. The weighted mean annual reflection coefficient for Nigeria was calculated to be 0.17 8 . This value was consistent with the relationship between surface reflection coefficient and latitude found from similar results from six other locations in the Northern Hemisphere. Urban coefficients were found to be lower than those for rural settlements or temperate zone urban centres.