Performance reduction of solar irradiance parametric models due to limitations in required aerosol data: case of the CPCR2 model

Summary Knowledge of the partition of global solar irradiance in its diffuse and direct beam components is required in different areas of applied meteorology. In the absence of solar irradiance measurements parametric approaches have to be used instead. In the present work, the parametric CPCR2 model has been analysed at Granada (37.18° N, 3.58° W, 660 m a.m.s.l), an inland location, covering a period greater than three years. Only cloudless conditions are analysed. Angstr?m’s α and β coefficients have been computed from measurements carried out with a sunphotometer. As the study reveals, the best performance of the parametric model is conditioned to the availability of appropriate information on aerosols, especially when the interest is focused on the direct and diffuse irradiance. Received October 18, 1999/Revised December 18, 2000     

Solar irradiance, sunshine duration and daylight illuminance derived from METEOSAT data for some European sites

Summary Radiometric ground truth data from seven Norwegian stations (58–64° N), and from five other European stations (38–61° N), are compared to satellite-derived data in the present paper. Hourly global irradiance at ground level is estimated by the Heliosat procedure from the “visible” channel of the geostationary satellite METEOSAT. With increasing latitude this satelllite sees the earth’s surface at an increasingly unfavourable angle. Nevertheless, in this paper, global irradiance estimates reproduce high latitude ground truth data with negligible Mean Bias Deviations (MBD) and only minor deviations regarding frequency distributions. Moreover, the Root Mean Square Deviations (RMSD) are comparable to those typically seen between ground truth stations some 20–30 km apart. Using a number of auxiliary models, a multiplicity of ground level solar radiation data is obtained from satellite-derived global irradiance data, and made available at the SATEL-LIGHT www server. The accuracy of the half-hourly data thus derived from Heliosat global irradiances, using models for diffuse fraction, luminous efficacy and slope/horizontal ratios, is successfully verified against ground truth data. Received August 31, 2000/Revised January 31, 2001     

Spatial variability in UV radiation during the growing season across the continental USA

Summary ?A major limitation in predicting the ultraviolet-B irradiance on humans, plant leaves and flowers and aquatic organisms is the difficulty in estimating exposure. This study analyzes the spatial variability in the daily exposure of narrow band 300 nm and 368 nm and broadband 290–315 nm (UVB) solar radiation between twelve paired locations in the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) UVB Climate Network over two summer growing seasons (May through August of 2000 and 2001). The spatial correlation of the UVB, 300 nm and 368 nm daily exposures between locations was approximately 0.7 to 0.8 for spacing distances of 100 km. The 300 nm daily exposure was typically more highly correlated between locations than the 368 nm daily exposure. Both the diffuse and direct beam components to the 300 nm daily exposure were similarly correlated with distance between locations. The 368 nm diffuse component of the daily exposures was less correlated with distance than the direct beam component, limiting the ability to interpolate daily exposures from measurement locations. In general the variability in daily exposures of UVB in the USDA UVB Climate Network is too large to interpolate daily exposures of solar radiation, with estimated 300 nm, 368 nm and broadband UVB errors at one-half the mean station spacing of the USDA Network of 22%, 21% and 16% respectively. More accurate interpolations of UVB exposure from this network will require either the incorporation of cloud cover variability from satellite imagery for daily exposure or the use of longer periods of accumulated exposure. Received May 14, 2002; revised October 25, 2002; accepted November 16, 2002     

A monitoring network for erythemally-effective solar ultraviolet radiation in Austria: determination of the measuring sites and visualisation of the spatial distribution

Summary In 1997 the Austrian ultraviolet radiation monitoring network was to built up to measure continuously erythemally-effective ultraviolet radiation. For this network the necessary measuring sites had to be selected by an objective method. Therefore a method was used, based on the de-correlation distances, calculated by the daily maximum of the global solar irradiance across the entire spectrum. For a correlation coefficient of 0.90, de-correlation distances were found to be in the order of 170 km (East-West) and 40 km (North-South). From this, 7 measuring sites wereselected to derive a total coverage of Austria. For the visualisation of the measured erythemally-effective solar radiation an optimum interpolation method was used to calculate the spatial distribution. The topography of Austria was used for height correction. The global solar radiation of 39 stations is also used to include the spatial distribution of cloud cover and the resulting attenuation of the erythemally-effective radiation. The combination of these two data sets provides an accuracy estimation of people’s exposure to erythemally-effective UV radiation within the mountainous country of Austria. Received September 12, 1999/Revised April 6, 2001     

Derivation of Cloud Index from Geostationary Satellites and Application to the Production of Solar Irradiance and Daylight Illuminance Data

Summary  We investigate in the present paper the relationship between satellite count, global irradiance and other solar and illumination resource components, bringing a particular attention to low solar elevation situations (below 20 °) which are very important in northern latitudes. Our investigation is based on data from two geostationary satellites, METEOSAT and GOES, backed by ground measurements in Switzerland and the northeastern USA. The study of different clear sky normalizations lead to the conclusion that a linear correlation between the global clearness index and the irradiance (like the heliosat method) would be inaccurate for low solar elevations, and therefore for high latitude regions. We developed a model that directly relates an elevation dependent clearness index to the could index. This methodology presents a definite advantage because it can be generalized to address the clearness index of other solar radiation components, besides global irradiance, such as direct irradiance, diffuse illuminance, etc. The correlations described in this paper were developed on the data from Geneva (in the frame of the EC program “Satellight”) and evaluated on two other independent data sets (Albany, USA and Lausanne, Switzerland). Their precisions, on a hourly basis, are respectively 30%, 40% and 60% for the global, diffuse and beam components) (90,55 and 95 W/m²). The use of independent data for thederivation and the validation of the models shows thatthose can be used in a wide range of locations, even if the applicability has to be assessed for very different climates. Received June 27, 1998 Revised February 26, 1999     

A new kind of cloudy sky model to compute instantaneous values of diffuse and global solar irradiance

Summary A model that uses two parameters to describe the state of the sky is presented. The parameters are the total cloud amount and a new two-value parameter – the sunshine number – stating whether the sun is covered or uncovered by clouds. Regression formulae to compute instantaneous cloudy sky global and diffuse irradiance on a horizontal surface are proposed. Fitting these relationships to Romanian data shows low bias errors for global radiation but larger errors for diffuse radiation. The model’s accuracy is significantly higher than one based on total cloud amount alone. The model is used to generate time-series of solar radiation data. A first approximate relationship, neglecting auto-correlation of the sunshine number, is used in the computations. Received July 17, 2001 Revised November 7, 2001     

Effect of clouds on UV and total irradiance at Paradise Bay, Antarctic Peninsula, from a summer 2000 campaign

Summary ?The analysis of ground-based measurements of solar erythemal ultraviolet (UV) irradiance with a Solar Light 501 biometer, and total (300–3000 nm) irradiance with an Eppley B&W pyranometer at the Argentine Antarctic Base “Almirante Brown”, Paradise Bay (64.9° S, 62.9° W, 10 m a.s.l.) is presented. Measurement period extends from February 16 to March 28 2000. A relatively high mean albedo and a very clean atmosphere characterise the place. Sky conditions were of generally high cloud cover percentage. Clear-sky irradiance for each day was estimated with model calculations, and the effect of the cloudiness was studied through the ratio of measured to clear-sky value (r). Two particular cases were analysed: overcast sky without precipitation and overcast sky with rain or slight snowfall, the last one presenting frequently dense fog. Total irradiance was more attenuated than UV by the homogeneous cloudiness, obtaining mean r values of 0.54 for erythemal irradiance and 0.30 for total irradiance in the first case (without precipitation) and 0.27 and 0.17 respectively in the second case (with precipitation). Mean r values for the complete period were 0.58 for erythemal irradiance and 0.43 for total irradiance. Erythemal and total daily insolations reduce quickly at this epoch due to the increase of the noon solar zenith angle and the decrease of daylight time. Additionally, they were strongly modulated by cloudiness. Measured maxima were 2.71 kJ/m² and 18.42 MJ/m² respectively. Measurements were compared with satellite data. TOMS-inferred erythemal daily insolation shows the typical underestimation with respect to ground measurements at regions of high mean albedo. Measured mean total daily insolation agrees with climatological satellite data for the months of the campaign. Received August 9, 2002; revised January 4, 2003; accepted January 28, 2003 Published online May 20, 2003     

Luminous efficacy of global solar radiation on a horizontal surface for overcast and intermediate skies

Summary  In the first part of this research two models for the luminous efficacy of global solar radiation on horizontal surfaces and overcast skies have been developed. The first of these models is developed using a method similar to that proposed by Littlefair (1988). The second model has been obtained from the corresponding illuminance and irradiance models in an, apparently, new approach to the subject. In the second part of this research, a model for the luminous efficacy of global solar radiation for intermediate skies and horizontal surfaces is developed from the corresponding illuminance and irradiance models. The model for intermediate skies is given by the same mathematical function as that of the analogous model for overcast skies, and only the empirical constants change. In all the cases the only independent variables used are the solar altitude and the brightness index. The models proposed in the present paper have been statistically tested, and their prediction accuracy compared with other models available in the scientific literature. Received June 26, 2000 Revised December 9, 2000     

Influence of the total atmospheric optical depth and cloud cover on solar irradiance components

Broadband solar irradiance data obtained in the spectral range 400–940 nm at Kwangju, South Korea from 1999–2000 have been analyzed to investigate the effects of cloud cover and atmospheric optical depth on solar radiation components. Results from measurements indicate that the percentage of direct and diffuse horizontal components of solar irradiance depend largely on total optical depth (TOD) and cloud cover. During summer and spring, the percentages of diffuse solar irradiance relative to the global irradiance were 5.0% and 4.9% as compared to 2.2% and 3.0% during winter and autumn. The diffuse solar irradiance is higher than the direct in spring and summer by 24.2%, and 40.6%, respectively, which may largely be attributed to the attenuation (scattering) of radiation by heavy dust pollution and large cloud amount. In cloud-free conditions with cloud cover ≤2/10, the fraction of the direct and diffuse components were 66.0% and 34.0%, respectively, with a mean daily global irradiance value of 7.92±2.91 MJ m⁻² day⁻¹. However, under cloudy conditions (with cloud cover ≥8/10), the diffuse and direct fractions were 97.9% and 2.2% of the global component, respectively. The annual mean TOD under cloudless conditions (cloud cover≤2/10) yields 0.74±0.33 and increased to as much as 3.15±0.67 under cloudy conditions with cloud amount ≥8/10. An empirical formula is derived for estimating the diffuse and direct components of horizontal solar irradiance by considering the total atmospheric optical depth (TOD). Results from statistical models are shown for the estimation of solar irradiance components as a function of TOD with sufficient accuracy as indicated by low standard error for each solar zenith angle (SZA).     

Anisotropic model for the diffuse biologically-effective irradiance of solar UV-radiation on inclined surfaces

Summary A model for biologically-effective ultraviolet radiation (UVR) of the sun is described, which allows the calculation of diffuse irradiance on inclined surfaces. A model is presented, for which isotropic scattered and reflected radiance are assumed. Using the horizon as a borderline between the upper and lower hemisphere, the scattering phenomena in the atmosphere for UVR are discussed. In contrast to models for other solar spectral ranges, the radiation field of UVR is close to isotropic. Only the horizon darkening by the long optical pathlengths was included in the model. This term was quantified by the UV albedo.Dedicated to O. Univ.-Prof. Dr. F. Steinhauser.With 1 Figure     

On the use of a cloud modification factor for solar UV (290–385 nm) spectral range

Summary  Knowledge of ultraviolet radiation is necessary in different applications, in the absence of measurements, this radiometric flux must be estimated from available parameters. To compute this flux under all sky conditions one must consider the influence of clouds. Clouds are the largest modulators of the solar radiative flux reaching the Earth’s surface. The amount and type of cloud cover prevailing at a given time and location largely determines the amount and type of solar radiation received at the Earth’s surface. This cloud radiative effect is different for the different solar spectral bands. In this work, we analyse the cloud radiative effect over ultraviolet radiation (290–385 nm). This could be done by defining a cloud modification Factor. We have developed such cloud modification Factor considering two different types of clouds. The efficiency of the cloud radiative effect scheme has been tested in combination with a cloudless sky empirical model using independent data sets. The performance of the model has been tested in relation to its predictive capability of global ultraviolet radiation. For this purpose, data recorded at two radiometric stations are used. The first one is located at the University of Almería, a seashore location (36.83° N, 2.41° W, 20 m a.m.s.l.), while the second one is located at Granada (37.18° N, 3.58° W, 660 m a.m.s.l.), an inland location. The database includes hourly values of the relevant variables that cover the years 1993–94 in Almería and 1994–95 in Granada. Cloud cover information provided by the Spanish Meteorological Service has been include to compute the clouds radiative effect. After our study, it appears that the combination of an appropriate cloudless sky model with the cloud modification Factor scheme provides estimates of ultraviolet radiation with mean bias deviation of about 5% that is close to experimental errors. Comparisons with similar formulations of the cloud radiative effect over the whole solar spectrum provides evidence for the spectral dependency of the cloud radiative effect. Received November 15, 1999 Revised September 11, 2000     

Determination of radiation amplification factor of atmospheric aerosol from the surface UV irradiance measurement at Gwangju, Korea

Summary This study investigated the impact of atmospheric aerosols on surface ultraviolet (UV) irradiance at Gwangju, Korea (35°13′N, 126°50′E). Data analyzed included surface UV irradiance measured by UV radiometers from June 1998 to April 2001 and the aerosol optical depth (AOD) in the visible range determined from a rotating shadow-band radiometer (RSR). The radiation amplification factor (RAF) of ozone for UV-B (280–315 nm) at Gwangju was 1.32–1.62. Values of the RAF of aerosols (RAF_AOD) for UV-A and UV-B were 0.18–0.20 and 0.22–0.26, respectively. Authors’ addresses: Jeong Eun Kim, Advanced Environmental Monitoring Research Center (ADEMRC), Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST) and Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA); Seong Yoon Ryu, Advanced Environmental Monitoring Research Center (ADEMRC), Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST) and Division of Metrology, Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science (KRISS); Young Joon Kim, Advanced Environmental Monitoring Research Center (ADEMRC) Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST), 1 Oryong-dong, Buk-gu, Gwangju 500-712, Republic of Korea.     

Cloud Transmission Estimates of UV-B Erythemal Irradiance

Summary Two UV-Biometer 501A instruments were used to estimate global erythemal irradiance at two locations in southwest Sweden; the Earth Sciences Centre, University of G?teborg (57.69° N; 11.92° E) and the island of Nordkoster, 200 km to the north (58.83° N; 10.72° E). A semi-empirical radiative transfer model was used to calculate the global erythemally effective irradiance under clear skies. A ratio of the hourly measured to clear-sky modelled irradiance was then derived for zenith angles 35–70°. Subsequent comparisons were then made with routine measurements of sunshine duration at G?teborg and sunshine duration, cloud cover, type and height at Nordkoster. Cloud transmission of UV-B irradiance decreases with increasing solar zenith angle, with cloud attenuation being 8% stronger at Nordkoster Island for zenith angles >>;60°. Transmission also decreases with increasing cloud cover such that overcast cloud conditions reduce transmissions by an average of 75%. In addition, cloud type affects the amount of ground incident irradiant flux. Fractus cloud afforded the least UV-B transmission (0.16), while cirrus filaments afforded the most (0.95). The spatial and temporal distribution of clouds appears tobe non-random. Under conditions of 1 to 3 octas, sky cover, clouds appear to be concentrated in line with the sensor and Sun on more occasions than that expected given a random cloud distribution. The same cloud cover condition also resulted in many instances of ground incident irradiance above clear-sky values. The presence of cumuliform clouds appears to increase the likelihood of the latter phenomena. Received January 4, 1998     

The reduction of global radiation in south-eastern Norway during the last 50 years

Summary At the Norwegian University of Life Sciences (previously known as the Agricultural University of Norway), measurements of global radiation have been performed since 1949. Rurally located, 35 km south of Oslo (59°40′N, 10°46′E), the local climate is not affected by industry or heavy traffic. The recent focus on global dimming in the scientific literature, and the impact a reduction of solar radiation on the Earth’s surface would have on agriculture and the biosphere in general, motivated us to collect and analyze the global radiation data. On a monthly basis, the reduction in radiation varied between more than 4% per decade in April and June to less than 2% per decade in January and May. The analyses show a reduction in the annual sum of global radiation by 2.5% or 3.1% per decade, depending on whether analyses were restricted to years with reliable and complete data sets (31 years from 1950 to 2003) or included all individual months with reliable data (545 months) were used.     

EMD analysis of solar insolation

Summary A new time series analysis technique, Empirical Mode Decomposition (EMD), which has been successfully applied to nonlinear and nonstationary data, is used to examine paleoclimate cycles in the Pleistocene (1 Ma bp–20 Ka bp). The purpose of this study is to improve knowledge of the climatic significance of solar insolation. The results show that the eccentricity band signal is much larger than previously estimated, having an amplitude of about 1% of solar irradiance which is comparable to the amplitude of the precession and obliquity band signals. This finding implies the need to reconsider the role of solar radiation on the formation and maintenance of quaternary ice sheet cycles.     

Squall lines and rainfall over Western Africa during summer 1986 and 87

Summary Using digitized IR images from the European satellite Meteosat, 153 squall lines (SLs) were observed over Western Africa during July, August and September 1986 and 87. The SL mean rainfall volume was computed using the daily rainfall amounts of more than 800 raingauges: 15 km³ in 1986 and 22.5 km³ in 1987. A mean amount of 15 mm was collected per rainy episode at a given station, however, as only about half of the stations situated under a SL experienced a rainy episode, the rainfall amount averaged along the total SL’s swath was 6.8 mm. With the help of the 8 daily Meteosat slots the SL’s area daily variation could be estimated: namely a minimum around noon and a maximum around midnight. Using the SLs displacements (east–west) one had access to the daily variation of the rainfall volume, a minimum in the morning and a maximum toward the end of the afternoon, as already found by several authors who used Meteosat images.     

Evaluating regional climate model estimates against site-specific observed data in the UK

This paper compares precipitation, maximum and minimum air temperature and solar radiation estimates from the Hadley Centre’s HadRM3 regional climate model (RCM), (50 × 50 km grid cells), with observed data from 15 meteorological station in the UK, for the period 1960–90. The aim was to investigate how well the HadRM3 is able to represent weather characteristics for a historical period (hindcast) for which validation data exist. The rationale was to determine if the HadRM3 data contain systematic errors and to investigate how suitable the data are for use in climate change impact studies at particular locations. Comparing modelled and observed data helps assess and quantify the uncertainty introduced to climate impact studies. The results show that the model performs very well for some locations and weather variable combinations, but poorly for others. Maximum temperature estimations are generally good, but minimum temperature is overestimated and extreme cold events are not represented well. For precipitation, the model produces too many small events leading to a serious under estimation of the number of dry days (zero precipitation), whilst also over- or underestimating the mean annual total. Estimates represent well the temporal distribution of precipitation events. The model systematically over-estimates solar radiation, but does produce good quality estimates at some locations. It is concluded that the HadRM3 data are unsuitable for detailed (i.e. daily time step simulation model based) site-specific impacts studies in their current form. However, the close similarity between modelled and observed data for the historical case raises the potential for using simple adjustment methods and applying these to future projection data.     

Calculation of solar irradiances for inclined surfaces: Validation of selected hourly and daily models

Abstract

Irradiance data obtained over a long period at Vancouver and Toronto, Canada, and covering a range of slope orientations are used to validate four models that estimate either the direct or diffuse solar irradiances for inclined surfaces. Evaluations are initially performed for daily and hourly time integrals. A simple parametrization of the diffuse sky radiance dramatically improves estimates of the diffuse irradiance. Both of the direct irradiance models have difficulty accommodating the diurnal characteristics of the irradiance, and consequently modelling errors are substantial for slopes not directly facing the equator. For equator‐facing slopes a saving in data requirements and computational effort through the use of daily integrals can be achieved with little additional error. A substantial portion of the differences between the measured and estimated irradiances is non‐systematic in nature and is therefore reduced through temporal averaging.     

Radiation balance over low-lying and mountainous areas in south-west Germany

Summary  Surface radiative fluxes play a major role in the energy exchange process between the atmosphere and earth surface and are thus very crucial to climatic processes within the atmospheric boundary layer. Based on four years REKLIP (REgio-KLIma-Project) data set of measured radiative fluxes and additional supporting meteorological variables, the surface radiation regime for selected lowland site (Bremgarten 212 m a.s.l.) and mountain sites (Geiersnest at 870 m a.s.l.; Feldberg 1489 m a.s.l.) in the southern Upper Rhine valley region (south-west Germany) has been reported. Time series of radiative fluxes and surface albedo showed significant inter-site differences. Possible reasons for the observed differences have been made. Downward atmospheric radiation A _l at the study sites was parameterised in terms of air temperature, vapour pressure and cloud amount, all of which strongly govern the variation of A _l . Effective terrestrial radiation amounted to about 50% of absorbed shortwave radiation at the study sites annually. During clear sky conditions, global solar irradiance G _s constituted about 76.0% of the incident extraterrestrial solar irradiance at Feldberg mountain site but only 68.5% of that at Bremgarten lowland site. Annual cumulative of net radiative flux R _n amounted to 1722 MJm⁻² yr⁻¹ at the lowland site, while that at Geiersnest and Feldberg mountain sites constituted 84% and 73% respectively of the corresponding magnitude for the lowland site. In the same vein, annual mean of radiation efficiency (defined here as R _n /G _s ) amounted to 0.32 in Feldberg, 0.37 in Geiersnest and 0.41 in Bremgarten. Consequently the annual available energy, of which net radiative flux is representative, was smaller at the mountain ous sites relative to the lowland site during the study period. Inter-annual variability of net radiative flux, its constituent variables and derivatives at the study sites were generally below 10%, with longwave fluxes showing the lowest fluctuation. This renders the measured data quite suitable for modelling purposes. In winter, mean daily sums of R _n showed a slow rise with cloud amount N at the lowland site but a sharp rise with N at Feldberg mountain site. In summer however, mean daily sums of R _n declined significantly with N as well as Linke turbidity factor at the study sites. Received June 24, 1999 Revised November 2, 2000     

Effects of cloudiness on global and diffuse UV irradiance in a high-mountain area

Summary At the high-mountain station Jungfraujoch (3576 m a.s.l., Switzerland), measurements of the radiation fluxes were made during 16 periods of six to eight weeks by means of a Robertson—Berger sunburn meter (UVB data), an Eppley UVA radiometer and an Eppley pyranometer. Cloudiness, opacity and altitude of clouds were recorded at 30-minute intervals. A second set of instruments was employed for separate measurement of the diffuse radiation fluxes using shadow bands. The global and diffuse UVA- and UVB radiation fluxes change less with cloudiness than the corresponding total radiation fluxes. When the sun is covered by clouds, the global UVA- and UVB radiation fluxes are also affected less than the global total radiation flux. The roughly equal influence of cloudiness on the UVA- and UVB radiation fluxes suggests that the reduction is influenced more by scattering than by ozone. Also, the share of diffuse irradiance in global irradiance is considerably higher for UVA- and UVB irradiance than for total irradiance. At 50° solar elevation and 0/10 cloudiness, the share is 39% for UVB irradiance, 34% for UVA irradiance and 11% for total irradiance. The increased aerosol turbidity after the eruptions of El Chichon and Pinatubo has caused a significant increase in diffuse total irradiance but has not produced any significant changes in diffuse UVA- and UVB irradiances.With 7 Figures