Digitized Database of Old Seismograms Recorder in Romania

The aim of this paper is to describe a managing system for a unique Romanian database of historical seismograms and complementary documentation (metadata) and its dissemination and analysis procedure. For this study, 5188 historical seismograms recorded between 1903 and 1957 by the Romanian seismological observatories (Bucharest-Filaret, Foc?ani, Bac?u, Vrincioaia, Câmpulung-Muscel, Ia?i) were used. In order to reconsider the historical instrumental data, the analog seismograms are converted to digital images and digital waveforms (digitization/ vectorialisation). First, we applied a careful scanning procedure of the seismograms and related material (seismic bulletins, station books, etc.). In a next step, the high resolution scanned seismograms will be processed to obtain the digital/numeric waveforms. We used a Colortrac Smartlf Cx40 scanner which provides images in TIFF or JPG format. For digitization the algorithm Teseo2 developed by the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology in Rome (Italy), within the framework of the SISMOS Project, will be used.     

New approach to measure the stability of the solar radiative regime

This paper focuses on different ways of characterizing the solar radiative regime of a day and the stability of this regime. The days may be stratified in classes of cloud shade, observed total cloud cover amount, daily averaged clearness index, and fractal dimension of the solar global irradiance signal. A new Boolean parameter related to solar irradiance fluctuation is defined, namely the sunshine stability number. The time averaged value of the sunshine stability number is used for the characterization of the radiative regime stability during a given time interval. Ranking the days from the view-point of the stability of their radiative regime is performed by using the daily average value of the sunshine stability number and appropriately defined values of disorder and complexity, respectively. Measurements performed in the Romanian town of Timisoara (latitude 45°46?? N, longitude 21°25?? E and 85?m altitude above mean sea level) are used here. They refer to time series of global and diffuse solar irradiance recorded at 15-s time interval between sunrise and sunset during all the days in 2009.     

A simplified but accurate spectral solar irradiance model

Summary ¶The paper deals with the computation of solar energy available in a specific location. First, a new formula describing the relation between global solar irradiation and the duration of bright sunshine is established. The analysis of its use shows that global solar clear sky irradiance models are essential tools for daily computation of global irradiation. An integrated spectral atmospheric transmittance model is presented, it can be used to compute beam and diffuse clear sky irradiance for all applications where broadband solar energy input is needed. Since it is desirable to use simplified estimation methods for many applications, a parametric global solar irradiance model, derived from the spectral model, is also presented. This model needs only surface meteorological data as input. The influence of the averaging method used for the input parameters on the model accuracy is evaluated. Comparison of model results with the measurements shows an acceptable level of accuracy with the new model. Finally, an application of daily global solar energy computation is presented.Received May 17, 2002; revised October 14, 2002; accepted February 11, 2003 Published online September 10, 2003     

Procedure of embedding biological action functions into the atmospheric transmittance

In order to perform calculations of biologically effective irradiance, the usual procedure is to modulate the ground-measured spectral solar irradiance with a specific biological action function. The inconvenience is that only a few meteorological stations worldwide are equipped to measure the spectral solar irradiance in the ultraviolet range. This motivates the search for a numerical substitute, which constitutes the subject of this report. An innovative approach based on generalized mean is used to infer the effective atmospheric transmittance. Its illustration resulted in a new parametric model for computing the biological dose under clear sky. The action spectrum for the growth response of plants, as a carrier of biological effects, is encapsulated into the atmospheric transmittance, leading to the calculation of the effective irradiance by simple algebra. The overall results indicate that the new parametric model performs accurately enough to be routinely used in practice. The procedure is general; therefore, it is described in detail to guide potential users in developing similar models incorporating other biological action spectra as needed. For speed-intensive applications, an executable file intended to run on any PC, which computes the effective irradiance with the proposed model, is provided.     

Autocorrelation properties of the sunshine number and sunshine stability number

Two new Boolean parameters are defined: the sunshine number (related to the state of the sky) and the sunshine stability number (which is as a measure of the fluctuation of the radiative regime). Elementary statistical and sequential properties of both parameters are presented in this paper. Actinometric and meteorological data measured at 15?s lag during 2009 in Timisoara (Romania, southeastern Europe) are used. The yearly series of daily averaged sunshine number has negative skewness and kurtosis. The series of daily averaged sunshine stability number has positive skewness and kurtosis. The series of daily averaged values of sunshine number are best described by an ARIMA(0,1,2) model. ARIMA(0,1,0) and ARIMA(0,2,0) models (associated with an appropriately defined white noise) may be used for synthesis of the sunshine number time series. The first model is to be preferred for practical reasons. The series of daily averaged values of sunshine stability number are best described by an ARIMA(2,2,1) model. The ARIMA(0,0,0) model is recommended to be used for generating time series of sunshine stability number. This model may be used for any particular day during the year and the only parameter depending on the day is the white noise standard deviation. A relationship between the white noise standard deviation and the daily averaged sunshine stability number is proposed.     

Fuzzy modelling of solar irradiation using air temperature data

Summary Fuzzy sets theory is applied to relate global solar irradiation to both the daily average and the daily amplitude of air temperature. In addition to the presentation of a new mapping technique, from the input to the output of the model, an innovative approach for the tuning of the fuzzy algorithm to fit a local meteo-climate is proposed. Since air temperature-based solar radiation models are strongly dependent on the origin location, the adaptive method presented here is designed as a tool for potential users to either increase the application area or to devise more precise local models. A critical assessment of fuzzy model performances and limitations has been conducted. Results reported here demonstrate the potential of modelling solar irradiation using fuzzy sets approach. Authors’ address: E. Tulcan-Paulescu, M. Paulescu, Physics Department, West University of Timisoara, V. Parvan 4, 300223 Timisoara, Romania.     

Retrieval of effective cloud field parameters from radiometric data

Theoretical and Applied Climatology - This study presents evaluation of the ability of Rossby Centre Regional Climate Model (RCA4) driven by nine global circulation models (GCMs), to skilfully...     

What Ångström—Prescott equation tells us about the cloud and clear-sky climatologies?

Theoretical and Applied Climatology - The Ångström–Prescott equation defines generically the relationship between solar energy available at ground level and sunshine duration. From...     

Nowcasting sunshine number using logistic modeling

In this paper, we present a formalized approach to statistical modeling of the sunshine number, binary indicator of whether the Sun is covered by clouds introduced previously by Badescu (Theor Appl Climatol 72:127–136, 2002). Our statistical approach is based on Markov chain and logistic regression and yields fully specified probability models that are relatively easily identified (and their unknown parameters estimated) from a set of empirical data (observed sunshine number and sunshine stability number series). We discuss general structure of the model and its advantages, demonstrate its performance on real data and compare its results to classical ARIMA approach as to a competitor. Since the model parameters have clear interpretation, we also illustrate how, e.g., their inter-seasonal stability can be tested. We conclude with an outlook to future developments oriented to construction of models allowing for practically desirable smooth transition between data observed with different frequencies and with a short discussion of technical problems that such a goal brings.     

Models for obtaining daily global solar irradiation from air temperature data

The study presents a critical assessment of the possibility of global solar irradiation computation by using air temperature instead of sunshine duration with the classical Ångström equations. The reason for this approach comes from the fact that, although the air temperature is a worldwide measured meteorological parameter, this is rarely used in solar radiation estimation techniques. More than that, the literature is very silent concerning the testing of such models in Eastern Europe. Two new global solar irradiation models (to be called AEAT) related to solar irradiation under clear sky conditions and having the minimum and maximum daily air temperature as input parameters were tested and compared with others from the literature against data measured at five stations in Romania in the year 2000. The accuracy of AEAT is acceptable and comparable to that of the models which use sunshine duration or cloud amount as input parameters. Since temperature-based Ångström correlations are strongly sensitive to origin, the approach for AEAT as a tool for potential users is presented in detail. Additionally reported is a new method to increase the generality of AEAT concerning the extension of the geographical application area. Based on overall results it was concluded that air temperature successfully substitutes sunshine duration in the estimation of the available solar energy.