Technical Narrative This U.S.-Nigerian collaborative research project involving the University of Maryland and the University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria is in the general area of climatology of atmospheric conditions. Project funding will enable the co-investigator from the University of Ilorin to work for three months time in the laboratory of Dr. Rachel Pinker at the University of Maryland. The collaborative research will analyze data used to derive information on the seasonal variation of sub-Saharan aerosol optical depths. Additionally, the co-investigator will visit the NOAA Environmental Research Laboratories in Boulder, Colorado in order to become acquainted with the World Climate Research Program plans to establish global baseline radiation networks for monitoring global climate change, and for validating satellite retrieval methods. This project in aerosol climatology fulfills the program objective of advancing scientific knowledge by enabling leading experts in the United States and Nigeria to combine complementary talents and pool research resources in areas of strong mutual interest and competence.
