Diminishing Atmospheric Carbon Monoxide fluxes as a Forecast of theNew Planting Season in West Africa

Abstract

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.