Solar & Daylight Data
Sun Path: Lagos, Nigeria
How to research sun path for a specific site in Lagos — the controlling authority, source documents, and checks to run before you rely on a number.
Last updated August 31, 2026 · Location data from the [GeoNames NG dump](https://download.geonames.org/export/dump/NG.zip) (CC BY 4.0, snapshot 2026-08-31, GeoNames ID 2332459). Regulatory starting point: [Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development and the applicable state authority](https://fmhud.gov.ng/). Figures are illustrative — verify against the current locally adopted edition for the site. Solar-method context: [NOAA Solar Calculation Details](https://gml.noaa.gov/grad/solcalc/calcdetails.html); the Harth monthly table uses a simpler declination and geometric-daylight approximation whose stated limitations must be retained.
Direct answer
For Lagos at 6.4541, 3.3947, the declination-only solar-noon altitude is approximately 73.0° at the June solstice, 83.5° at an equinox and 60.1° at the December solstice. Refine these geometry checks with the project date, civil time, facade azimuth, terrain and local horizon. The reproducible location record is GeoNames ID 2332459 in administrative area 05, at 6.4541, 3.3947; replace it with the surveyed parcel point before relying on the result. As a transparent geometry check, declination-only solar-noon altitude is about 73.0° at the June solstice, 83.5° at an equinox and 60.1° at the December solstice. Representative 21st-day geometry ranges from about 11.6 hours in December to 12.4 hours in June; this excludes atmospheric refraction, terrain and obstruction effects. The cited national authority is a discovery starting point; current local documents and a named qualified reviewer control project use of this sun path record.
Prepared by Harth · Prepared from the cited location and country sources; local project inputs remain unreviewed · Published 2026-08-26 · Updated 2026-08-31.
What must be verified for Lagos?
Lagos is represented here at approximately 6.4541, 3.3947 for discovery and workflow planning. A project address, parcel, elevation, exposure, authority, and submission date must replace that city-centre reference before design use.
How should sun path be established?
- Fix the surveyed site and local time basis.
- Select an authoritative weather source or a named solar-position algorithm.
- Record period, percentile or scenario and units.
- Test sensitivity to elevation, exposure, urban form and horizon.
- Save the source file, retrieval date and checker in the model record.
| Input | Project-specific evidence | QA question |
|---|---|---|
| Site | surveyed coordinates, elevation and horizon | Does the point represent the building? |
| Weather/solar method | named dataset, algorithm, period and time basis | Are station, time zone and units explicit? |
| Design scenario | current and future scenario agreed by the team | Is an average being mistaken for an extreme? |
| Compliance | adopted local document and edition | Was applicability confirmed with the authority? |
What are the limits of this worksheet?
This sun-path-workflow page is a project-starting worksheet, not a design value or approval. The controlling authority and qualified professionals for the Lagos site remain authoritative.
Which related searches does this primary location record cover?
This primary route consolidates the location evidence needed for Sun Path, Solar Altitude & Azimuth, Solar Shading Design, Daylight & Orientation. A narrower route should be released only when it adds a materially different official source, calculation, process, threshold or worked example.
Lagos monthly solar geometry check for sun path
| Representative date | Declination | Solar-noon altitude | Geometric daylight | Noon shadow / height |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21 January | -20.14° | 63.41° | 11.683 h | 0.501 |
| 21 February | -11.23° | 72.32° | 11.828 h | 0.319 |
| 21 March | -0.40° | 83.14° | 11.994 h | 0.120 |
| 21 April | +11.58° | 84.88° | 12.177 h | 0.090 |
| 21 May | +20.14° | 76.32° | 12.317 h | 0.243 |
| 21 June | +23.45° | 73.00° | 12.375 h | 0.306 |
| 21 July | +20.44° | 76.01° | 12.322 h | 0.249 |
| 21 August | +11.75° | 84.70° | 12.180 h | 0.093 |
| 21 September | -0.20° | 83.34° | 11.997 h | 0.117 |
| 21 October | -11.75° | 71.79° | 11.820 h | 0.329 |
| 21 November | -20.44° | 63.10° | 11.678 h | 0.507 |
| 21 December | -23.45° | 60.10° | 11.625 h | 0.575 |
Lagos solar-geometry fingerprint at 6.4541, 3.3947
- Lagos, 21 January: declination -20.14°, noon altitude 63.41°, zenith 26.59°, geometric daylight 11.683 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 0.501.
- Lagos, 21 February: declination -11.23°, noon altitude 72.32°, zenith 17.68°, geometric daylight 11.828 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 0.319.
- Lagos, 21 March: declination -0.40°, noon altitude 83.14°, zenith 6.86°, geometric daylight 11.994 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 0.120.
- Lagos, 21 April: declination +11.58°, noon altitude 84.88°, zenith 5.12°, geometric daylight 12.177 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 0.090.
- Lagos, 21 May: declination +20.14°, noon altitude 76.32°, zenith 13.68°, geometric daylight 12.317 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 0.243.
- Lagos, 21 June: declination +23.45°, noon altitude 73.00°, zenith 17.00°, geometric daylight 12.375 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 0.306.
- Lagos, 21 July: declination +20.44°, noon altitude 76.01°, zenith 13.99°, geometric daylight 12.322 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 0.249.
- Lagos, 21 August: declination +11.75°, noon altitude 84.70°, zenith 5.30°, geometric daylight 12.180 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 0.093.
- Lagos, 21 September: declination -0.20°, noon altitude 83.34°, zenith 6.66°, geometric daylight 11.997 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 0.117.
- Lagos, 21 October: declination -11.75°, noon altitude 71.79°, zenith 18.21°, geometric daylight 11.820 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 0.329.
- Lagos, 21 November: declination -20.44°, noon altitude 63.10°, zenith 26.90°, geometric daylight 11.678 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 0.507.
- Lagos, 21 December: declination -23.45°, noon altitude 60.10°, zenith 29.90°, geometric daylight 11.625 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 0.575.
Harth computed the Lagos fingerprint for latitude 6.4541° with the Cooper declination approximation, 90° - |latitude - declination| at solar noon, centre-to-centre sunrise hour angle and 1 / tan(altitude) shadow ratio. Longitude 3.3947° is retained for a later civil-time conversion; this screen does not perform that conversion. See NOAA's solar calculation details. Atmospheric refraction, terrain, facade azimuth and obstructions remain outside this first-pass comparison.
Where can you explore related guidance?
- Explore all solar data guidance
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- All solar & daylight data guidance for Nigeria
- Climate Design Data: Lagos, Nigeria
Sources and method
Location data from the GeoNames NG dump (CC BY 4.0, snapshot 2026-08-31, GeoNames ID 2332459). Regulatory starting point: Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development and the applicable state authority. Figures are illustrative — verify against the current locally adopted edition for the site. Solar-method context: NOAA Solar Calculation Details; the Harth monthly table uses a simpler declination and geometric-daylight approximation whose stated limitations must be retained.
Source links
Frequently asked questions
What does the sun path record for Lagos establish?
The sun path record for Lagos establishes a reproducible discovery point at 6.4541, 3.3947 (GeoNames ID 2332459, administrative area 05) and a Nigeria source path. It does not establish a final project value, approval or parcel decision.
What must be replaced before using this sun path workflow for a project in Lagos?
For the sun path record in Lagos, replace the 6.4541, 3.3947 city reference with the surveyed site or parcel, identify the competent local authority, and verify the current documents under National Building Code plus state and local development-control requirements. Record the edition, retrieval date, units, assumptions and named checker before relying on the result.
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