A study of the impact of aerosols on the energy budget of the atmosphere using satellite measurements of climatic parameters and computer models

A deterministic spectral shortwave radiative transfer model was used forthe computation of the Earth's atmospheric radiation budget, based on hightemporal and spatial resolution satellite data of aerosols and atmospheric climaticparameters from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer(MODIS) sensor.The study focused on the evaluation of the aerosol direct radiative effect(DRE) on the radiation budget components. Due to the high spatialand temporal variability of aerosols, the DRE, which constitutes a crucialcomponent of the overall eect of aerosols on climate, is thus also highlyvariable.The aerosol direct eect on the tropospheric ozone photolysis rate, J(O1D),was also examined, being a dominant sink of tropospheric ozone. We notethat tropospheric ozone contributes to the global greenhouse eect. Thus,J(O1D) is an important climatic parameter, which needs to be studied usingmodelling approaches, due to the scarcity of measuring stations, andbecause it takes place primarily below 330 nm, a spectral region where theaerosol eect is a key operating factor.The aerosol direct eect on potential evaporation was also assessed. Potentialevaporation equals actual evaporation in shallow lakes, and constitutesa crucial parameter of the hydrological cycle. The aerosol DRE decreasespotential evaporation by decreasing the solar radiation reaching the Earth'ssurface.The model runs were performed for the period 2000{2010 over severalsites in Greece, which are characterised by high aerosol loads, with uniquecharacteristics in terms of seasonal variation and origin. Two research stationsin Crete (HCMR/AERONET and Finokalia), were selected due to theappropriateness of the island for studying Saharan dust episodes, which arefrequent in the wider Eastern Mediterranean, and the availability of ground{based data for both model supplementary input and validation. The modelwas also run over four lakes in Central Greece, which constitute the mainwater supply reservoirs of the city of Athens, for the evaluation of the aerosol eect on potential evaporation.MODIS Level 2 data of aerosols, clouds and atmospheric parameters wereanalysed and processed, and used as input to the model. These data areavailable since 2000, on a daily basis and at 10km10km and 5km5kmspatial resolution. The model takes into account all physical parameters andprocesses that aect signicantly the solar radiation transfer. The aerosolDRE is determined at the Earth's surface, within the atmosphere and at thetop of the atmosphere.The model output downwelling shortwave radiation was successfully validatedagainst ground{based measurements at the HCMR and Finokalia stationsand at the four lakes in Central Greece. The model output J(O1D) wassuccessfully validated against Finokalia station measurements. The analysisof the aerosol DRE on the model radiation budget, J(O1D) and potentialevaporation was performed on an instantaneous/daily mean, seasonal andinter{annual basis. Dust event eects were also quantied, and trends duringthe period examined were assessed and evaluated in terms of correspondingtrends and eects of operating factors, including aerosols, clouds and totalozone.Results show a decreasing trend in aerosols and the corresponding DREover all sites examined. Changes in the radiation budget components, however,are also controlled by other factors; an increase in cloud fraction overHCMR station counterbalanced the eect that the DRE reduction wouldhave caused. Similarly, although the DRE on J(O1D) has decreased, J(O1D)has not increased as was expected, due to an increase in total atmosphericozone. The presence of aerosols reduces potential evaporation by about 0.5mm on a mean daily basis, reaching up to 2 mm in summer. However, adecreasing trend in the aerosol load and DRE was found over all lakes duringthe period 2001{2010.Depending on the availability of model input data, the methodology developedin this study is applicable to any region of specic interest over theglobe.

Variations of the snow physical parameters and their effects on albedo in Sapporo, Japan

Annals of Glaciology ◽

10.3189/172756407782871747 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 46 ◽

pp. 375-381 ◽

Cited By ~ 21

Author(s):

Teruo Aoki ◽

Hiroki Motoyoshi ◽

Yuji Kodama ◽

Teppei J. Yasunari ◽

Konosuke Sugiura

Keyword(s):

Grain Size ◽

Near Infrared ◽

Mineral Dust ◽

Radiation Budget ◽

Physical Parameters ◽

Transfer Model ◽

Infrared Wavelengths ◽

The Difference ◽

Impurity Models

AbstractContinuous measurements of the radiation budget and meteorological components, along with frequent snow-pit work, were performed in Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan, during two winters from 2003 to 2005. The measured relationships between broadband albedos and the mass concentration of snow impurities were compared with theoretically predicted relationships calculated using a radiative transfer model for the atmosphere–snow system in which different types (in light absorption) of impurity models based on mineral dust and soot were assumed. The result suggests that the snow in Sapporo was contaminated not only with mineral dust but also with more absorptive soot. A comparison of the measured relationships between broadband albedos and snow grain size for two different layers with the theoretically predicted relationships revealed that the visible albedo contains information about the snow grain size in deeper snow layers (10 cm), and the near-infrared albedo contains only surface information. This is due to the difference in penetration depth of solar radiation into snow between the visible and the near-infrared wavelengths.

Cloud sensitivity studies for stratospheric and lower mesospheric ozone profile retrievals from measurements of limb-scattered solar radiation

Atmospheric Measurement Techniques ◽

10.5194/amt-2-653-2009 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 2 (2) ◽

pp. 653-678 ◽

Cited By ~ 37

Author(s):

T. Sonkaew ◽

V. V. Rozanov ◽

C. von Savigny ◽

A. Rozanov ◽

H. Bovensmann ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Solar Radiation ◽

Relative Error ◽

Optical Thickness ◽

Transfer Model ◽

Absorption Bands ◽

Ozone Profile ◽

Mesospheric Ozone ◽

Cloud Optical Thickness ◽

Abstract. Clouds in the atmosphere play an important role in reflection, absorption and transmission of solar radiation and thus affect trace gas retrievals. The main goal of this paper is to examine the sensitivity of stratospheric and lower mesospheric ozone retrievals from limb-scattered radiance measurements to clouds using the SCIATRAN radiative transfer model and retrieval package. The retrieval approach employed is optimal estimation, and the considered clouds are vertically and horizontally homogeneous. Assuming an aerosol-free atmosphere and Mie phase functions for cloud particles, we compute the relative error of ozone profile retrievals in a cloudy atmosphere if clouds are neglected in the retrieval. To access altitudes from the lower stratosphere up to the lower mesosphere, we combine the retrievals in the Chappuis and Hartley ozone absorption bands. We find significant cloud sensitivity of the limb ozone retrievals in the Chappuis bands at lower stratospheric altitudes. The relative error in the retrieved ozone concentrations gradually decreases with increasing altitude and becomes negligible above approximately 40 km. The parameters with the largest impact on the ozone retrievals are cloud optical thickness, ground albedo and solar zenith angle. Clouds with different geometrical thicknesses or different cloud altitudes have a similar impact on the ozone retrievals for a given cloud optical thickness value, if the clouds are outside the field of view of the instrument. The effective radius of water droplets has a small influence on the error, i.e., less than 0.5% at altitudes above the cloud top height. Furthermore, the impact of clouds on the ozone profile retrievals was found to have a rather small dependence on the solar azimuth angle (less than 1% for all possible azimuth angles). For the most frequent cloud types, the total error is below 6% above 15 km altitude, if clouds are completely neglected in the retrieval. Neglecting clouds in the ozone profile retrievals generally leads to a low bias for a low ground albedo and to a high bias for a high ground albedo, assuming that the ground albedo is well known.

A Model of Solar Radiation and Joule Heating in Flow of Third Grade Nanofluid

Zeitschrift für Naturforschung A ◽

10.1515/zna-2014-0267 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 70 (3) ◽

pp. 177-184 ◽

Cited By ~ 17

Author(s):

Tariq Hussain ◽

Tasawar Hayat ◽

Sabir Ali Shehzad ◽

Ahmed Alsaedi ◽

Bin Chen

Keyword(s):

Solar Radiation ◽

Joule Heating ◽

Shear Thickening ◽

Radiation Energy ◽

Skin Friction Coefficient ◽

Third Grade ◽

Physical Parameters ◽

Convective Conditions ◽

Grade Fluid ◽

AbstractThe flow problem resulting from the stretching of a surface with convective conditions in a magnetohydrodynamic nanofluid with solar radiation is examined. Both heat and nanoparticle mass transfer convective conditions are employed. An incompressible third grade fluid which exhibits shear thinning and shear thickening characteristics is used as a base fluid. Concept of convective nanoparticle mass condition is introduced. Effects of Brownian motion and thermophoresis on magnetohydrodynamic flow of nanofluid are accounted in the presence of thermal radiation. Energy equation incorporates the features of Joule heating. The impact of physical parameters on the temperature and nanoparticle concentration has been pointed out. Numerical values of skin-friction coefficient are presented and analysed. It is hoped that this present investigation serves as a stimulus for the next generation of solar film collectors, heat exchangers technology, material processing, geothermal energy storage, and all those processes which are highly affected by the heat enhancement concept.

Global distribution of Earth's surface shortwave radiation budget

Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics ◽

10.5194/acp-5-2847-2005 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 5 (10) ◽

pp. 2847-2867 ◽

Cited By ~ 108

Author(s):

N. Hatzianastassiou ◽

C. Matsoukas ◽

A. Fotiadi ◽

K. G. Pavlakis ◽

E. Drakakis ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Radiative Heating ◽

Surface Radiation ◽

Radiation Budget ◽

Shortwave Radiation ◽

Physical Parameters ◽

Transfer Model ◽

Data Set ◽

Global Mean

Abstract. The monthly mean shortwave (SW) radiation budget at the Earth's surface (SRB) was computed on 2.5-degree longitude-latitude resolution for the 17-year period from 1984 to 2000, using a radiative transfer model accounting for the key physical parameters that determine the surface SRB, and long-term climatological data from the International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project (ISCCP-D2). The model input data were supplemented by data from the National Centers for Environmental Prediction - National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCEP-NCAR) and European Center for Medium Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) Global Reanalysis projects, and other global data bases such as TIROS Operational Vertical Sounder (TOVS) and Global Aerosol Data Set (GADS). The model surface radiative fluxes were validated against surface measurements from 22 stations of the Baseline Surface Radiation Network (BSRN) covering the years 1992-2000, and from 700 stations of the Global Energy Balance Archive (GEBA), covering the period 1984-2000. The model is in good agreement with BSRN and GEBA, with a negative bias of 14 and 6.5 Wm-2, respectively. The model is able to reproduce interesting features of the seasonal and geographical variation of the surface SW fluxes at global scale. Based on the 17-year average model results, the global mean SW downward surface radiation (DSR) is equal to 171.6 Wm-2, whereas the net downward (or absorbed) surface SW radiation is equal to 149.4 Wm-2, values that correspond to 50.2 and 43.7% of the incoming SW radiation at the top of the Earth's atmosphere. These values involve a long-term surface albedo equal to 12.9%. Significant increasing trends in DSR and net DSR fluxes were found, equal to 4.1 and 3.7 Wm-2, respectively, over the 1984-2000 period (equivalent to 2.4 and 2.2 Wm-2 per decade), indicating an increasing surface solar radiative heating. This surface SW radiative heating is primarily attributed to clouds, especially low-level, and secondarily to other parameters such as total precipitable water. The surface solar heating occurs mainly in the period starting from the early 1990s, in contrast to decreasing trend in DSR through the late 1980s. The computed global mean DSR and net DSR flux anomalies were found to range within ±8 and ±6 Wm-2, respectively, with signals from El Niño and La Niña events, and the Pinatubo eruption, whereas significant positive anomalies have occurred in the period 1992-2000.

Global distribution of Earth’s surface shortwave radiation budget

Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics Discussions ◽

10.5194/acpd-5-4545-2005 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 5 (4) ◽

pp. 4545-4597 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

N. Hatzianastassiou ◽

C. Matsoukas ◽

A. Fotiadi ◽

K. G. Pavlakis ◽

E. Drakakis ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Radiative Heating ◽

Surface Radiation ◽

Radiation Budget ◽

Shortwave Radiation ◽

Physical Parameters ◽

Transfer Model ◽

Data Set ◽

Surface Measurements ◽

Global Mean

Abstract. The monthly mean shortwave (SW) radiation budget at the Earth's surface (SRB) was computed on 2.5-degree longitude-latitude resolution for the 17-year period from 1984 to 2000, using a radiative transfer model accounting for the key physical parameters that determine the surface SRB, and long-term climatological data from the International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project (ISCCP-D2). The model input data were supplemented by data from the National Centers for Environmental Prediction – National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCEP-NCAR) and European Center for Medium Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) Global Reanalysis projects, and other global data bases such as TIROS Operational Vertical Sounder (TOVS) and Global Aerosol Data Set (GADS). The model surface radiative fluxes were validated against surface measurements from 22 stations of the Baseline Surface Radiation Network (BSRN) covering the years 1992–2000, and from 700 stations of the Global Energy Balance Archive (GEBA), covering the period 1984–2000. The model is in very good agreement with BSRN and GEBA, with a negative bias of 14 and 6.5 Wm-2, respectively. The model is able to reproduce interesting features of the seasonal and geographical variation of the surface SW fluxes at global scale, which is not possible with surface measurements. Based on the 17-year average model results, the global mean SW downward surface radiation (DSR) is equal to 171.6 Wm−2, whereas the net downward (or absorbed) surface SW radiation is equal to 149.4 Wm−2, values that correspond to 50.2 and 43.7% of the incoming SW radiation at the top of the Earth's atmosphere. These values involve a long-term surface albedo equal to 12.9%. Significant increasing trends in DSR and net DSR fluxes were found, equal to 4.1 and 3.7 Wm−2, respectively, over the 1984–2000 period (equivalent to 2.4 and 2.2 Wm−2 per decade), indicating an increasing surface solar radiative heating. This surface SW radiative heating is primarily attributed to clouds, especially low-level, and secondarily to other parameters such as total precipitable water. The surface solar heating occurs mainly in the period starting from the early 1990s, in contrast to the commonly reported decreasing trend in DSR through the late 1980s, found also in our study. The computed global mean DSR and net DSR flux anomalies were found to range within ±8 and ±6 Wm−2, respectively, with signals from El Niño and La Niña events, and the Pinatubo eruption, whereas significant positive anomalies have occurred in the period 1992–2000.

Variability class dependent evaluation of the CAMS Solar Radiation Service

10.5194/dach2022-215 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Faiza Azam ◽

Jethro Betcke ◽

Marion Schroedter-Homscheidt ◽

Mireille Lefevre ◽

Yves-Marie Saint-Drenan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Time Series ◽

Quality Control ◽

Solar Radiation ◽

Temporal Variability ◽

Solar Surface ◽

Model Output ◽

Energy Applications ◽

Service Evolution ◽

Monitoring Service ◽

The Copernicus Atmospheric Monitoring Service (CAMS) offers Solar radiation services (CRS) providing information on surface solar irradiance (SSI). The service is currently derived from Meteosat Second Generation (MSG) and the service evolution includes its extension to other parts of the globe. CRS provides clear and all sky time series combining satellite data products with numerical model output from CAMS on aerosols, water vapour and ozone. These products are available from 2004 until yesterday. A regular quality control of input parameters, quarterly benchmarking against ground measurements and automatic consistency checks ensure the service quality. Variability of solar surface irradiances in the 1-minute range is of interest especially for solar energy applications. The variability classes can be defined based on ground as well as satellite-based measurements. This study will present the evaluation of the CAMS CRS based on the eight variability classes derived from ground observations of direct normal irradiation (DNI) (Schroedter-Homscheidt et al., 2018). Such an analysis will help assess the impact of recent improvements in the derivation of all sky irradiance under different cloudy conditions. References: Schroedter-Homscheidt, M., S. Jung, M. Kosmale, 2018: Classifying ground-measured 1 minute temporal variability within hourly intervals for direct normal irradiances. &#8211; Meteorol. Z. 27, 2, 160&#8211;179. DOI:10.1127/metz/2018/0875.

Human Impact on Direct and Diffuse Solar Radiation during the Industrial Era

Journal of Climate ◽

10.1175/jcli4277.1 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 20 (19) ◽

pp. 4874-4883 ◽

Cited By ~ 59

Author(s):

Maria M. Kvalevåg ◽

Gunnar Myhre

Keyword(s):

Water Vapor ◽

Solar Radiation ◽

Central Africa ◽

Transfer Model ◽

Physical Processes ◽

Diffuse Solar Radiation ◽

Global Dimming ◽

Aerosol Effects ◽

Abstract In this study the direct and diffuse solar radiation changes are estimated, and they contribute to the understanding of the observed global dimming and the more recent global brightening during the industrial era. Using a multistream radiative transfer model, the authors calculate the impact of changes in ozone, NO2, water vapor, CH4, CO2, direct and indirect aerosol effects, contrails, and aviation-induced cirrus on solar irradiances at the surface. The results show that dimming is most pronounced in central Africa, Southeast Asia, Europe, and northeast America. Human activity during the industrial era is calculated and accounts for a decrease in direct solar radiation at the surface of up to 30 W m−2 (30%–40%) and an increase in diffuse solar radiation of up to 20 W m−2. The physical processes that lead to the changes in direct and diffuse solar radiation are found to be remarkably different and the authors explain which mechanisms are responsible for the observed changes.

Asphalt Pavement Temperature Prediction Models: A Review

Applied Sciences ◽

10.3390/app11093794 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (9) ◽

pp. 3794

Author(s):

Ibrahim Adwan ◽

Abdalrhman Milad ◽

Zubair Ahmed Memon ◽

Iswandaru Widyatmoko ◽

Nuryazmin Ahmat Zanuri ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Urban Areas ◽

Prediction Models ◽

Climatic Factors ◽

Asphalt Pavement ◽

Asphalt Mixture ◽

Daily Basis ◽

Analytical Models ◽

Transfer Model ◽

Temperature Changes ◽

The performance of bituminous materials is mainly affected by the prevailing maximum and minimum temperatures, and their mechanical properties can vary significantly with the magnitude of the temperature changes. The given effect can be observed from changes occurring in the bitumen or asphalt mixture stiffness and the materials’ serviceable life. Furthermore, when asphalt pavement layer are used, the temperature changes can be credited to climatic factors such as air temperature, solar radiation and wind. Thus in relevance to the discussed issue, the contents of this paper displays a comprehensive review of the collected existing 38 prediction models and broadly classifies them into their corresponding numerical, analytical and statistical models. These models further present different formulas based on the climate, environment, and methods of data collection and analyses. Corresponding to which, most models provide reasonable predictions for both minimum and maximum pavement temperatures. Some models can even predict the temperature of asphalt pavement layers on an hourly or daily basis using the provided statistical method. The analytical models can provide straight-forward solutions, but assumptions on boundary conditions should be simplified. Critical climatic and pavement factors influencing the accuracy of predicting temperature were examined. This paper recommends future studies involving coupled heat transfer model for the pavement and the environment, particularly consider to be made on the impact of surface water and temperature of pavements in urban areas.

Changes in Surface Broadband Shortwave Radiation Budget during the 2017 Eclipse

10.5194/acp-2019-961 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Guoyong Wen ◽

Alexander Marshak ◽

Si-Chee Tsay ◽

Jay Herman ◽

Ukkyo Jeong ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Solar Radiation ◽

Radiative Transfer ◽

Optical Depth ◽

Solar Eclipse ◽

Surface Flux ◽

Radiation Budget ◽

Visible Radiation ◽

Cloud Optical Depth ◽

Global Average ◽

Abstract. While solar eclipses are known to greatly diminish the visible radiation reaching the surface of the Earth, less is known about the magnitude of the impact. We explore both the observed and modelled level of change in surface radiation during the eclipse of 2017. We deployed a pyranometer and Pandora spectrometer instrument to Casper, Wyoming and Columbia, Missouri to measure surface broadband shortwave (SW) flux and atmospheric properties during the 21 August 2017 solar eclipse event. We performed detailed radiative transfer simulations to understand the role of clouds in spectral and broadband solar radiation transfer in the Earth’s atmosphere for the normal (non-eclipse) spectrum and red-shift solar spectra for eclipse conditions. The theoretical calculations showed that the non-eclipse-to-eclipse surface flux ratio depends strongly on the obscuration of solar disk and slightly on cloud optical depth. These findings allowed us to estimate what the surface broadband SW flux would be for non-eclipse conditions from observations during the eclipse and further to quantify the impact of the eclipse on the surface broadband SW radiation budget. We found that the eclipse caused local reductions of time-averaged surface flux of about 379 W m−2 (50 %) and 329 W m−2 (46 %) during the ∼3 hours course of the eclipse at the Casper and Columbia sites, respectively. We estimated that the Moon’s shadow caused a reduction of approximately 7–8 % in global average surface broadband SW radiation. The eclipse has a smaller impact on surface flux reduction for cloudy conditions than a clear atmosphere; the impact decreases with the increase of cloud optical depth. However, the relative time-averaged reduction of local surface SW flux during a solar eclipse is approximately 45 % and it is not sensitive to cloud optical depth. The reduction of global average SW flux relative to climatology is proportional to the non-eclipse and eclipse flux difference in the penumbra area and depends on cloud optical depth in the Moon’s shadow and geolocation due to the change of solar zenith angle. We also discuss the influence of cloud inhomogeneity on the observed SW flux. Our results not only quantify the reduction of the surface solar radiation budget but also advance the understanding of broadband SW radiative transfer under solar eclipse conditions.

Modelling of maize production in Croatia: present and future climate

The Journal of Agricultural Science ◽

10.1017/s0021859610000808 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 149 (2) ◽

pp. 145-157 ◽

Cited By ~ 22

Author(s):

V. VUČETIĆ

Keyword(s):

Solar Radiation ◽

Maize Yield ◽

Global Solar Radiation ◽

Future Climate ◽

Yield Reduction ◽

Transfer Model ◽

Present Climate ◽

Simultaneous Application ◽

Maize Growth ◽

SUMMARYMaize is one of the most important agricultural crops in Croatia, and was selected for research of the effect of climate warming on yields. The Decision Support System for the Agrotechnology Transfer model (DSSAT) is one of the most utilized crop–weather models in the world, and was used in this paper for the investigation of maize growth and production in the present and future climate. The impact of present climate on maize yield was studied using DSSAT 4.0 with meteorological data from the Zagreb–Maksimir station covering the period 1949–2004. Pedological, physiological and genetic data from a 1999 field maize experiment at the same location were added. The location is representative of the continental climate in central Croatia. The linear trends of model outputs and the non-parametric Mann–Kendall test indicate that the beginning of silking has advanced significantly by 1·4 days/decade since the mid-1990s, and maturity by 4·5 days/decade. It also shows a decrease in biomass by 122 kg/ha and in maize yield by 216 kg/ha in 10 years.Estimates of the sensitivity of maize growth and yield in future climates were made by changing the initial weather and CO2 conditions of the DSSAT 4.0 model according to the different climatic scenarios for Croatia at the end of the 21st century. Changed climate suggests increases in global solar radiation, minimal temperature and maximal temperature (×1·07, 2 and 4°C, respectively), but a decrease in the amount of precipitation (×0·92), compared with weather data from the period 1949–2004. The reduction of maize yield was caused by the increase in minimal and maximal temperature and the decrease in precipitation amount, related to the present climate, is 6, 12 and 3%, respectively. A doubling of CO2 concentration stimulates leaf assimilation, but maize yield is only 1% higher, while global solar radiation growth by 7% increases evapotranspiration by 3%. Simultaneous application of all these climate changes suggested that the maize growth period would shorten by c. 1 month and maize yield would decrease by 9%, with the main reason for maize yield reduction in Croatia being due to extremely warm conditions in the future climate.