Empirical Analysis of Micro-Climatic Effects on Radio Frequency Signal Strength from Base Transceiver Stations in Abraka, Nigeria

Abstract

Empirical understanding of radio frequency (RF) signal variability under real atmospheric conditions remains critical for the optimization of wireless communication systems in tropical environments. This study investigates the relationship between RF signal strength and key meteorological parameters at operational Base Transceiver Station (BTS) sites in Abraka, Nigeria. Field measurements were conducted over a 28-day period at three BTS locations. RF field strength was recorded at a fixed distance of 100 m and a measurement height of 1.5 m using a Trifield TF2 RF meter, while ambient temperature and relative humidity were obtained from the Nigerian Meteorological agency (NiMet). Descriptive, correlation, and regression analyses were applied to evaluate both overall and site-specific relationships. Overall correlation analysis revealed weak relationships between RF signal strength and temperature (r = –0.185, p = 0.092) and humidity (r = 0.105, p = 0.343). However, site-specific analysis demonstrated statistically significant negative correlations between RF signal strength and temperature at two BTS sites (r = –0.389, p = 0.041; r = –0.567, p = 0.002), indicating localized atmospheric sensitivity. Multiple regression analysis showed that meteorological parameters explained only 3.5% of total signal variation, highlighting the dominant role of infrastructural and environmental factors. The findings provide localized empirical evidence that is necessary for terrain-aware and climate-resilient wireless network planning in tropical regions and establish a foundation for further studies on diurnal and distance-dependent RF signal behaviour.