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Solar Eclipse: Weather Agency Advices Nigerians

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) has advised Nigerians not to panic over the total solar eclipse which will take place on March 29.Agency reports quote NIMET's Director-General, Liwhu Akeh as saying that the advice was necessary to enlighten people about the eclipse, which will be total in five states.The five states are Oyo, Kwara, Niger, Zamfara and Katsina.According to the report, Akeh's advice was contained in a statement signed by NIMET spokeswoman, Eva Azinge and made available to newsmen in Abuja.He said the eclipse, which will start from North-East, Brazil to Europe through Africa, would take place between 9.15 a.m. and 9.45 a.m.He said that part of the total eclipse that will cause complete darkness would pass through North-Western and South-Western Nigeria as well as some parts of the world."The remaining 31 states and the FCT will experience partial eclipse" NIMET boss was quoted as saying.The country's chief meteorologist said that Nigerians should not therefore be disturbed by the natural occurrence, as there is no known meteorological implication for the eclipse.However, Akeh said that the solar radiation might transiently drop, but would not be enough to significantly change surface temperature."The eclipse will not disturb the weather condition of the day, except the temporary darkness in some locations that will experience it," he said.On the impact of the solar eclipse, he said that the sun could be viewed safely with the naked eye only during the few brief seconds or minutes of a total solar eclipse.He further explained that an eclipse of the sun (or solar eclipse) could only occur at new moon when the moon passes between Earth and sun."If the moon's shadow happens to fall upon Earth's surface at that time, we see some portion of the sun's disc covered or "eclipsed" by the moon.According to him, "as a result of this development, the moon's shadow usually misses Earth as it passes above or below our planet at new moon.""At least twice a year, the geometry lines up just right so that some parts of the moon's shadow falls on Earth's surface and an eclipse of the sun is seen from that region," he added.He, however, predicted that the next total eclipse of the sun would occur on August 1,2008.The Tide recalls that Nigeria had previously recorded eclipses in 1898, 1947, 1959 and 2001, with the most recent one igniting a riot in Maiduguri where it occurred.People who did not understand the phenomenon took to the streets protesting that something bad had happened to them, while others thought that the world had come to an end.

http://www.nairaland.com/img/eclipse1.jpg

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) has advised Nigerians not to panic over the total solar eclipse which will take place on March 29.Agency reports quote NIMET's Director-General, Liwhu Akeh as saying that the advice was necessary to enlighten people about the eclipse, which will be total in five states.The five states are Oyo, Kwara, Niger, Zamfara and Katsina.According to the report, Akeh's advice was contained in a statement signed by NIMET spokeswoman, Eva Azinge and made available to newsmen in Abuja.He said the eclipse, which will start from North-East, Brazil to Europe through Africa, would take place between 9.15 a.m. and 9.45 a.m.He said that part of the total eclipse that will cause complete darkness would pass through North-Western and South-Western Nigeria as well as some parts of the world."The remaining 31 states and the FCT will experience partial eclipse" NIMET boss was quoted as saying.The country's chief meteorologist said that Nigerians should not therefore be disturbed by the natural occurrence, as there is no known meteorological implication for the eclipse.However, Akeh said that the solar radiation might transiently drop, but would not be enough to significantly change surface temperature."The eclipse will not disturb the weather condition of the day, except the temporary darkness in some locations that will experience it," he said.On the impact of the solar eclipse, he said that the sun could be viewed safely with the naked eye only during the few brief seconds or minutes of a total solar eclipse.He further explained that an eclipse of the sun (or solar eclipse) could only occur at new moon when the moon passes between Earth and sun."If the moon's shadow happens to fall upon Earth's surface at that time, we see some portion of the sun's disc covered or "eclipsed" by the moon.According to him, "as a result of this development, the moon's shadow usually misses Earth as it passes above or below our planet at new moon.""At least twice a year, the geometry lines up just right so that some parts of the moon's shadow falls on Earth's surface and an eclipse of the sun is seen from that region," he added.He, however, predicted that the next total eclipse of the sun would occur on August 1,2008.The Tide recalls that Nigeria had previously recorded eclipses in 1898.
, 1947, 1959 and 2001, with the most recent one igniting a riot in Maiduguri where it occurred.People who did not understand the phenomenon took to the streets protesting that something bad had happened to them, while others thought that the world had come to an end.
See the links here for images.

http://www.nairaland.com/img/eclipse1.jpg
http://www.nairaland.com/img/eclipse2.jpg
http://www.nairaland.com/img/eclipse3.jpg
http://www.nairaland.com/img/eclipse3.closer.jpg