Analysis of sky conditions using 40 year records of solar radiation data in China

Summary Forty years of daily global and diffuse radiation data have been used to characterize the atmospheric optical conditions at 14 premium radiation stations in China. The clearness index (K _T ), diffuse ratio (K _D ), and diffuse coefficient (K _C ) have been analyzed for long-term and seasonal variations, correlations of relative sunshine (R _S ) versus clearness index and diffuse coefficient, respectively. Two polynomial models have been developed to simulate clearness index and diffuse ratio by using relative sunshine data and have been shown to be reasonable at most of the 14 stations. The results show that there are significant declining trends in clearness index and increasing trends in diffuse ratio at most of the 14 premium radiation stations, but there are no significant trends for diffuse coefficient. The seasonal variations of clearness index are determined by the regional climate and changes with relative sunshine.     

Physical,mineralogical and chemical properties of harmattan dust at Ile-Ife,Nigeria

Summary Meteorological conditions associated with the transport and deposition of harmattan dust particles in West Africa are discussed as well as particle-size distribution analyses of Saharan aeolian dust monitored at Ile-Ife (7.29 N, 4.34 E) nearly 2,000 km South-West of its predominant source region, the Chad Basin.Mineralogical analysis of the dust indicated that it is predominantly composed of quartz (> 70%) followed by microcline, kaolinite and traces of mica and halloysite. Chemical analyses indicated a predominance of SiO₂ (> 60%) followed by Al₂O₃ (17.4%), Na₂O (10.1%), Fe₂0₃ (5.6%), TiO₂ (3.33%), K₂O (1.88%), MgO (0.56%), and CaO (0.37%). The following trace elements were identified: Zn (931 ppm), Mn (834 ppm), Ni (113 ppm), Cr (103 ppm), Cu (106 ppm), Co (77 ppm) V (65 ppm) and Li (25 ppm).The effect of the poor visibility caused by the harmattan dust on aviation operation and safety as well as the health hazards posed on the respiratory system by the air-borne toxic elements should be of concern to relevant decision makers and should be further investigated.

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Zusammenfassung Vorliegende Studie behandelt meteorologische Bedingungen in Zusammenhang mit dem Transport und der Ablagerung von Harmattan-Staubpartikeln in Westafrika, als auch Partikelgrößenverteilungen, die in Ile-Ife (7.29N, 4.34E) aufgezeichnet wurden, beinahe 2000 km südwestlich von ihrer wichtigsten Ursprungsregion, dem Tschad-Becken.Die mineralogische Analyse des Staubes hat gezeigt, daß er im wesentlichen aus Quartz (> 70%) besteht. Chemische Analysen des Staubes wiesen hauptsächlich SiO₂ (> 60%), sowie Al₂O₃ (17,4%), Na₂O (10,1%), Fe₂O₃ (5,6%) TiO₂ (3,33%), K₂O (1,88%), MgO (0,56%) und CaO (0.37%) aus; an Spurenelementen wurden Zn (931 ppm), Mn (834 ppm), Ni (113 ppm), Cr (103 ppm), Cu (106 ppm), Co (77 ppm), V (65 ppm) und Li (25 ppm) nachgewiesen.Die Auswirkungen der durch den Harmattan-Staub stark geminderten Sichtweite auf den Flugverkehr und dessen Sicherheit sowie die gesundheitliche Beeinträchtigung der Atemwege durch giftige Aerosole sollten Gegenstand der Sorge staatstragender Kräfte als auch weiterer Forschungsbemühungen sein!

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With 5 Figures     

用卫星资料计算我国东部地区晴空太阳辐射

根据光的多次散射理论的离散纵标法，利用我国东南沿海地区探空站的资料，计算出不同高度上分谱段的太阳直接辐射和向上，向下散射辐射，与相应时刻的卫星测值（可见光，红外通道S－VISSR计数值）进行逐步回归拟合，建立晴空状况下卫星测值与大气中各高度太阳直接辐射和攻射辐射的统计模式，并将拟合方法进行稳定性检验，据此可以利用卫星资料计算各高度分谱段的太阳直接辐射和散射辐射。     

Empirical estimation of daily clear sky solar radiation in Thessaloniki,Greece

Summary In the present study a mathematical model is proposed for estimating daily clear sky solar radiation in Thessaloniki. The relation I = A*sin (h) + B was used for calculating the intensity I of solar radiation. The coefficientsA andB depend on the quantities of water vapour and aerosols in the atmosphere and the sunheight (h).A andB have been estimated separately for each month. The application of the proposed model is only possible when the values ofA andB and two other astronomical parameters (sun's declination and hour angleH) are known. A good agreement has been found between observed and computed values, a fact significantly reinforcing the accuracy of the proposed model.NotesWith 2 Figures     

晴天地表总辐射和净辐射瞬时值计算方法

以较为精确的大气辐射传输模式为基础,研制出晴天地表总辐射和净辐射瞬时值的计算方案。与以往的经验计算方法不同,该方案将辐射传输带模式的思路引入地面太阳辐射计算,并尽可能将大气中吸收和散射物质对太阳辐射的影响考虑进去,从而使该方法具有较好的精确性和普适性。在此基础上采用了Kokhanovsky等人提出的大气气溶胶反射率和透过率参数化方案,使得气溶胶对地面总辐射和净辐射的影响得到较好的处理。采用的自变量都是数值预报模式或卫星观测能提供的气象要素,因此该方案即可用于数值预报模式或陆面过程模式计算地表辐射平衡,又可以利用卫星观测或再分析资料估算地面太阳能资源分布。利用美国能源部三个大气辐射观测站点2005年全年的观测资料及欧洲宇航局提供的卫星反演气溶胶资料对计算方案进行了检验。结果表明,该方法十分精确,所有点的平均相对误差都小于6%,误差的均方差都小于0.3 W•m^-2。     

云天地表总辐射和净辐射瞬时值的计算方法

为减少计算机时,满足实时预报要求,全球数值预报模式中的辐射计算频率通常设定为三小时。这样处理会大大减少计算量,但也同时导致较大辐射日变化偏差,并影响模式对地面能量平衡,对流及降水的模拟。为改进这一缺陷,我们开发了一种辐射快速计算方案,可用于计算瞬时地面太阳总辐射和净辐射,使到达地面的太阳辐射计算可与模式积分同步进行,从而改善地面太阳辐射日变化模拟。本文介绍云天的计算方法。该方案所用的输入变量均为预报模式或卫星观测所能提供的量。结果表明：该方案既可用于数值预报模式也可利用观测资料独立计算地面太阳辐射。经与美国能源部大气辐射观测资料检验,该方案的精度很高,地面总辐射瞬时值的平均计算误差小于7%。     

Statistical properties of effective drought index (EDI) for Seoul,Busan, Daegu,Mokpo in South Korea

Time series of drought indices has been considered mostly in view of temporal and spatial distributions of a drought index so far. Here we investigate the statistical properties of a daily Effective Drought Index (EDI) itself for Seoul, Busan, Daegu, Mokpo for the period of 100 years from 1913 to 2012. We have found that both in dry and wet seasons the distribution of EDI as a function of EDI follows the Gaussian function. In dry season the shape of the Gaussian function is characteristically broader than that in wet seasons. The total number of drought days during the period we have analyzed is related both to the mean value and more importantly to the standard deviation. We have also found that according to the distribution of the number of occasions where the EDI values of several consecutive days are all less than a threshold, the distribution follows the exponential distribution. The slope of the best fit becomes steeper not only as the critical EDI value becomes more negative but also as the number of consecutive days increases. The slope of the exponential distribution becomes steeper as the number of the city in which EDI is simultaneously less than a critical EDI in a row increases. Finally, we conclude by pointing out implications of our findings.     

Analysis of 40 year records of solar radiation data in Shanghai,Nanjing and Hangzhou in Eastern China

Summary In this paper, we analyze global, direct and diffuse solar radiation data on a horizontal surface observed at stations in Shanghai, Nanjing and Hangzhou for the period of 1961 to 2000. The data include monthly averages of the daily clearness index (G/G₀: the ratio of global to extraterrestrial solar radiation) and the diffuse fraction (D/G: the ratio of diffuse to global solar radiation. The present study has processed and analyzed the data, including variables or statistics of mean, and annual monthly and daily total, the diurnal variation and the frequency of daily totals of global solar radiation. A correlation between daily values of clearness index and diffuse fraction is obtained and recommended correlation equations were calculated. The annual variations and trend of yearly series are analyzed for daily global, direct and diffuse radiation on a horizontal surface, as well as for daily clearness index and diffuse fraction in Shanghai, Nanjing and Hangzhou. The results show: 1) the east China is characterized by a decrease in global and direct radiation and a little increase in diffuse radiation and a negative linear relationship was obtained between clearness index and diffuse fraction. 2) The annual variations of global, direct and diffuse radiation for Shanghai, Nanjing and Hangzhou are similar with relative low values of global and direct radiation in June due to the Meiyu period. 3) The acceleration of air pollution and decrease of relative sunshine are the possible causes for the decrease of global and direct radiation.     

Evaluation on penetration rate of cloud for incoming solar radiation using geostationary satellite data

Solar surface insolation (SSI) represents how much solar radiance reaches the Earth??s surface in a specified area and is an important parameter in various fields such as surface energy research, meteorology, and climate change. This study calculates insolation using Multi-functional Transport Satellite (MTSAT-1R) data with a simplified cloud factor over Northeast Asia. For SSI retrieval from the geostationary satellite data, the physical model of Kawamura is modified to improve insolation estimation by considering various atmospheric constituents, such as Rayleigh scattering, water vapor, ozone, aerosols, and clouds. For more accurate atmospheric parameterization, satellite-based atmospheric constituents are used instead of constant values when estimating insolation. Cloud effects are a key problem in insolation estimation because of their complicated optical characteristics and high temporal and spatial variation. The accuracy of insolation data from satellites depends on how well cloud attenuation as a function of geostationary channels and angle can be inferred. This study uses a simplified cloud factor that depends on the reflectance and solar zenith angle. Empirical criteria to select reference data for fitting to the ground station data are applied to suggest simplified cloud factor methods. Insolation estimated using the cloud factor is compared with results of the unmodified physical model and with observations by ground-based pyranometers located in the Korean peninsula. The modified model results show far better agreement with ground truth data compared to estimates using the conventional method under overcast conditions.     

The recent characteristics of Asian dust and haze events in Seoul, Korea

Summary The study on the characteristics of aerosol in Seoul during springtime from 1998 to 2003 is performed by the size-resolved number concentrations of aerosol. Asian dust events occur in spring most frequently, but it has been often observed in wintertime since 1999. Since 2000, the number of Asian dust days has been increasing, and the intensity has been more severe until 2002. However, there were only 3 dust days in Seoul during the spring of 2003, since the synoptic cyclone was relatively not intense enough to rise and transport dust to Korean peninsula, and the air stream was usually tiled to north of Korean peninsula. In addition, the precipitation was relatively plentiful and the air temperature was cold enough not to keep dry soil condition.Haze is the suspended particles in the air, reducing visibility by scattering light, and it is often a mixture of aerosols and photochemical smog. Dry particles with diameters of the order of 0.1µm, are small enough to scatter short wavelengths of light. Haze occurs well in winter and spring, and severe haze is observed in the afternoon. The occurrence frequency of haze has been decreasing since 2000 except in May of 2003.During Asian dust events from 1998 to 2003, the number concentration of aerosol with diameters from 0.3µm to 0.5µm decreases notably, but that larger than 1µm increases rapidly. On the other hand, for the haze events the number concentration from 0.3µm to 0.5µm increases notably, but that larger than 1µm decreases.     

Parameterization and mapping of solar radiation in data sparse regions

Knowledge of temporal and spatial variation of solar radiation is essential for many applications. In this work, a simple and feasible procedure is conducted to map the daily solar radiation for Liaoning province, one of the most important agricultural areas in China, but with sparsely measured solar radiation data. The daily sunshine duration are interpolated to the whole area, subsequently, solar radiation are calculated by ?ngstr?m-Prescott model, the generic parameters of which are determined by least square to minimize the overall fitting residual between the ratio of actual to potential sunshine duration and the ratio of actual to extra-terrestrial solar radiation of the sites where solar radiation are available. In other local regions with sparse data, mapping of the solar radiation could be done following the simple procedure. In the present study area, using the interpolated daily sunshine duration data by ANUSPLIN, ?ngstr?m-Prescott model with the generic parameters (a = 0.505, and b = 0.204) returns reasonable results, with the overall RMSE of 2.255 MJ m^?2, and RRMSE of 16.54%. The daily solar radiation varies between 5.26 in December and 22.74 MJ m^?2 in May, and shows an obviously spatial variation which is mainly contributed to the climate and topography. The substitution of solar radiation from nearby station is preferred to estimation by ?ngstr?m-Prescott model if the distance between the stations falls below the threshold of 135 ± 15 km. The RMSE of such substitution increases by approximately 0.157 MJ m^?2 per 10 km.     

Precise estimation of hourly global solar radiation for micrometeorological analysis by using data classification and hourly sunshine

We have developed a method for estimating hourly global solar radiation (GSR) from hourly sunshine duration data. This procedure requires only hourly sunshine duration as the input data and utilizes hourly precipitation and daily snow cover as auxiliary data to classify time intervals into six cases according to weather conditions. To obtain hourly GSR using a simple algebraic form, a quadratic function of the solar elevation angle and the sunshine duration ratio is used. Daily GSR is given by a sum of hourly GSRs. We evaluated the performance of the newly developed method using data obtained at 67 meteorological stations and found that the estimated GSR is highly consistent with that observed. Hourly and daily root-mean-square misfits are approximately 0.2 MJ/m²/h (~55 W/m²) and 1.4 to 1.5 MJ/m²/day (~16 to 17 W/m²), respectively. Our classification of weather conditions is effective for reducing estimation errors, especially under cloudy skies. Since the sunshine duration is observed at more meteorological stations than GSR, the proposed new method is a powerful tool for obtaining solar radiation with hourly resolution and a dense geographical distribution. One of the proposed methods, GSRgrn, can be applicable to hourly GSR estimations at different observation sites by setting local parameters (the precipitable water, surface albedo, and atmospheric turbidity) suitable to the sites. The hourly GSR can be applied for various micrometeorological studies, such as the heat budget of crop fields.     

Calculation of solar and thermal radiation absorption in the atmosphere, based on the HITRAN data

Summary Using the HITRAN database from 2003, the absorption of solar and thermal radiation by the atmosphere is calculated. The results are presented in the form of spectral densities of absorption yield of the atmosphere and its components, and fractions of absorbed energy of the solar radiation and thermal radiation in the atmosphere by each of its components separately and together. Finally, the obtained results are discussed in the context of the lately published model of Earth’s radiation budget-MAP 85(4), 275–281 (2004). The shares of atmospheric components in the greenhouse effect and in the absorption of solar radiation are calculated. The percentage contributions of the more important atmospheric components in the greenhouse effect are as follows: clouds 66, water vapor 25, CO₂ 6.7, N₂O 0.7, CH₄ 0.7.     

Seasonal variations of gravity waves revealed in rawinsonde data at Pohang,Korea

Summary Seasonal variations of gravity wave characteristics are investigated using rawinsonde data observed at Pohang observatory, Korea (36°2′N, 129°23′E) during the one-year period of 1998. Analysis is carried out for two atmospheric layers representing the troposphere (2–9 km) and stratosphere (17–30 km). There exist clear seasonal variations in amplitudes of temperature and wind perturbations and wave energy in the stratosphere, with their maxima in wintertime and minima in summertime. A strong correlation is found between the wave activity and the strength of the jet stream, but there is no clear correlation between the wave activity and the vertical gradient of static stability. The intrinsic frequency and vertical and horizontal wavelengths of gravity waves in the stratosphere are 2f–3f, where f is the Coriolis parameter, and 2–3 km and 300–500 km, respectively. The intrinsic phase velocity directs westward in January and northeastward in July. The vertical flux of the stratospheric zonal momentum is mostly negative except in summertime with a maximum magnitude in January. Topography seems to be a major source of stratospheric gravity waves in wintertime. Convection can be a source of gravity waves in summertime, but it is required to know convective sources at nearby stations, due to their intermittency and locations relative to floating balloons.     

Relationships between photosynthetically active radiation and clearness index at Bloemfontein, South Africa

Summary Relationships between photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) and solar radiation (SR) and between diffuse radiation and global radiation at Bloemfontein, South Africa were investigated. The ratio of PAR to SR (PAR/SR) has been reported from many places in the northern hemisphere, but there were not many PAR/SR measurements documented from the southern hemisphere, including the study region. Based on the present observations, mean PAR/SR in the region (0.48) was not exceptionally different from other reported data (0.45–0.50). The effects of sky condition on PAR/SR were also investigated and confirmed the previous findings. PAR/SR increased as the clearness index (K_T=ratio of global to extraterrestrial SR) decreased, as sky conditions varied from clear to cloudy. Thus, PAR/SR can be a simple function of the clearness index (the global PAR model). In this study, PAR/SR was explained by a quadratic function of K_T. For the relationship between diffuse and global radiation, a simple linear threshold diffuse PAR model, as a linear function of K_T, was proposed for the study region using long-term data of diffuse and global SR. Using the previous findings on the relationship between the ratio of diffuse to global SR (K_SR) and the ratio of diffuse to global PAR (K_PAR), at high K_T, K_PAR can be estimated as 30% higher than K_SR, while at low K_TK_PAR is equivalent to K_SR.     

天津生态城太阳辐射特征分析及算法评估

利用2014年8月14日—2015年8月12日 天津市生态城太阳能观测站和同期气象观测资料,统计分析生态城太阳辐射特征,并对各向同性和各向异性两种倾斜面太阳辐射计算模型的精度和误差来源进行评估,结果表明:生态城水平面和倾斜面曝辐量在月均值、季节和年总量上存在较大差异,利用水平面太阳辐射进行光伏发电预估会存在误差;太阳辐...