Radio Duct Estimation in Some Selected Areas of the Gulf of Guinean Troposphere

Abstract

The regular occurrence of strong duct entrapment layers is prevalent
in coastal areas of the Gulf of Guinea region where it is evident that
they occur frequently and their probability of occurrence poses
enough operational effects on current radio communication signals.
In this work ducting model was used to predict the presence of duct
phenomena in the Gulf of Guinea region. Also, Advanced Refractive
Effects Prediction System (AREPS) was used to compute refractivity
using radiosonde data from Abidjan, Douala and Libreville for the
years 2000 to 2003, 2008, 2009 and 2011, 2014, respectively. Results
show that Abidjan, Douala and Libreville have altitudes where
pronounced ducting phenomenon occurred majorly to be within the
first 300m, 180m and 160m above sea level. Abidjan and Douala
troposphere exhibited more presence of surface duct with 85.2% and
75.4% occurrences and surface-based duct with 26.2% and 45.6%
occurrences. Libreville with surface and surface based duct has
34.5% and 10.1% occurrences. The outcome of study is expected to
be of great benefit to telecom-industry and military formations in
West Africa sub- region and beyond.