Sunshine activity and total column ozone variation in Lagos, Nigeria

Abstract

Total column ozone data obtained from Earth Probe TOMS (Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer) Version. 8 were analyzed for Lagos, Nigeria, a northern tropical station (06.6° N, 03.33° E). It was found that total column ozone thickness has been decreasing at an average rate of about 0.32 DU per year over a nine year period (1997-2005). For the nine years, the minimal annual ozone values were found in the years 2003 and 2005 with a mean value of about 265 DU. Linear regression analysis gives a significant negative correlation between total column ozone and sunshine hours.