Nigeria First In Africa To Acquire Cosmic Rays Detector–NASRDA
The National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) reports that Nigeria has become the first African nation to acquire a cosmic ray muon detector to enhance capabilities in climate change and atmospheric research.
Professor Babatunde Rabiu, the Director of the UN-African Regional Centre for Space Science and Technology Education in English (UN-ARCSSTEE), which is a research and development centre under NASRDA, shared this information during a symposium in Abuja on Friday.
UN-ARCSSTEE, in partnership with Georgia State University (GSU), USA, coordinated the Cosmic Rays and Space Weather symposium.
The cosmic ray muon detector, tailored for observing cosmic rays and space weather, was crafted and conceived by the Physics and Astronomy Department at Georgia State University (GSU), USA.
Rabiu clarified that cosmic rays are natural radiation uncharged in the atmosphere. He noted that cosmic rays differ depending on the geographical location, latitude, and altitude, and can undergo alterations due to specific human activities.
“More than ever, scientists are curious about predicting weather, and studying space weather, especially now that climate change is becoming obvious, which is the condition in outer space.
“Cosmic rays are everywhere and it has to do with the earth, and it is useful in studying the climate but is yet to be fully impacted because it is ongoing research.
“That is why we hope that with the measurements, we are taking with the muon detector, we will be able to have effective predictability of our climate system,’’ he said.
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Rabiu, while speaking on space weather activities in Africa, said it dated back to 2004 with the distribution of manometers across Africa by donor agencies.
He said that although few countries in Africa had their Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receivers, the continent needed more monitoring systems for space weather.
According to Prof. He Xiaochun, Director of Physics, at GSU, USA, the project was targeted at exploring living in space, understanding it, and its adaptation, and providing information for stakeholders to protect and make informed decisions.
Xiaochun explained that cosmic ray radiation, mostly proton particles, is produced far in deep space and gets into the solar system and produces cosmic ray showers in the earth’s upper atmosphere.
Director of the Centre for Basic Space Science and Astronomy, Dr Bonaventure Okere, said that the facility would aid astronomy studies and enhance research and development in that area.
The symposium highlighted cosmic radiations, how it interacts with the atmosphere, and environments, the impact of climate change, and how such radiations could be studied and analysed using the cosmic ray’s muon detector.
The meeting also discussed the need for stakeholders to make informed decisions on the reduction of gas emissions and having clean air for sustainable human development.
NAN/Chidimma Gold
