Nymphas E.F., Otunla T.A., Adeniyi M.O., Oladiran E.O.
Nymphas, E.F., Department of Physics, University of Ibadan, Nigeria; Otunla, T.A., Department of Physics, University of Ibadan, Nigeria; Adeniyi, M.O., Department of Physics, University of Ibadan, Nigeria; Oladiran, E.O., Department of Physics, University of Ibadan, Nigeria
This paper document the impact of the total solar eclipse (97.4%) of 29 March 2006 on the surface energy fluxes at Ibadan, Nigeria (longitude 4.56°E, latitude 7.55°N), a tropical location. The surface energy (determined by the BREB method) was found to be grossly affected by the eclipse. The latent heat and net radiation (R n) lagged the sensible heat by 11min in totality. The sensible heat lagged the latent heat and R n by 6min before it start to increase after the totality phase of the eclipse, while global radiation (R g) lagged R n by 7min. The sensible heat reversed sign, reaching a value of -1.02Wm -2 during the total phase of the eclipse while the latent heat dropped by 89.7%.All the radiation fluxes (global radiation, R g, net radiation R n, temperature, and soil heat flux) measured during the eclipse event were significantly affected by the sudden 'cut off' of the solar irradiation. There was a 95% decrease in R g, while R n dropped from 354.3Wm -2 to -11.7Wm -2. © 2012 Elsevier Ltd.