Evaluation of solar energy budget within Cross River Estuary, Nigeria: implication for marine transportation

Abstract

The meteorological parameters obtained from weather station in Uyo (2009 - 2013) were analyzed using
Angstrom model to estimate the solar energy budget available in the Cross River estuary. The daily data
obtained over the period of five years were converted to monthly data. The regression coefficients for
Angstrom model (used for estimating solar energy budget) were obtained using SPSS. The results showed
that the value of extraterrestrial radiation (Ho) for the estuary was 526.191 MJm
-2
day
-1
. While the estimated
solar irradiance (energy budget) for the study area was 167.94 MJm
–2
day
–1
. This amount of energy is
large enough to complement 80 liters of diesel used by seagoing vessel for a round trip between Oron and
Calabar. Also, the computed relative sunshine duration yielded 0.706. This shows that the local
atmosphere was not clear over the period studied but cloudy. Despite the cloudy conditions of the
atmosphere, nature has budgeted sufficient solar energy in the study area. Based on these, the study
recommends that water vessels within the study area should be encouraged to use solar energy in their
day to day activities, as this will not only reduce fossil fuel consumption, but ensures that water craft
operates in a more environmental friendly way.
Key words: , , marine transportation, cloudy.