scholarly journals On the ability of RegCM4 regional climate model to simulate surface solar radiation patterns over Europe: an assessment using satellite-based observations

2015 ◽  
Vol 15 (22) ◽  
pp. 13195-13216 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Alexandri ◽  
A. K. Georgoulias ◽  
P. Zanis ◽  
E. Katragkou ◽  
A. Tsikerdekis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Solar Radiation ◽  
Regional Climate Model ◽  
Climate Model ◽  
Regional Climate ◽  
Radiative Transfer Model ◽  
Asymmetry Factor ◽  
Transfer Model ◽  
Potential Contribution ◽  
Absolute Deviation ◽  
Surface Solar Radiation

Abstract. In this work, we assess the ability of RegCM4 regional climate model to simulate surface solar radiation (SSR) patterns over Europe. A decadal RegCM4 run (2000–2009) was implemented and evaluated against satellite-based observations from the Satellite Application Facility on Climate Monitoring (CM SAF), showing that the model simulates adequately the SSR patterns over the region. The SSR bias between RegCM4 and CM SAF is +1.5 % for MFG (Meteosat First Generation) and +3.3 % for MSG (Meteosat Second Generation) observations. The relative contribution of parameters that determine the transmission of solar radiation within the atmosphere to the deviation appearing between RegCM4 and CM SAF SSR is also examined. Cloud macrophysical and microphysical properties such as cloud fractional cover (CFC), cloud optical thickness (COT) and cloud effective radius (Re) from RegCM4 are evaluated against data from CM SAF. Generally, RegCM4 underestimates CFC by 24.3 % and Re for liquid/ice clouds by 36.1 %/28.3 % and overestimates COT by 4.3 %. The same procedure is repeated for aerosol optical properties such as aerosol optical depth (AOD), asymmetry factor (ASY) and single-scattering albedo (SSA), as well as other parameters, including surface broadband albedo (ALB) and water vapor amount (WV), using data from MACv1 aerosol climatology, from CERES satellite sensors and from ERA-Interim reanalysis. It is shown here that the good agreement between RegCM4 and satellite-based SSR observations can be partially attributed to counteracting effects among the above mentioned parameters. The potential contribution of each parameter to the RegCM4–CM SAF SSR deviations is estimated with the combined use of the aforementioned data and a radiative transfer model (SBDART). CFC, COT and AOD are the major determinants of these deviations on a monthly basis; however, the other parameters also play an important role for specific regions and seasons. Overall, for the European domain, CFC, COT and AOD are the most important factors, since their underestimations and overestimations by RegCM4 cause an annual RegCM4–CM SAF SSR absolute deviation of 8.4, 3.8 and 4.5 %, respectively.

scholarly journals On the ability of RegCM4 regional climate model to simulate surface solar radiation patterns over Europe: an assessment using satellite-based observations

2015 ◽  
Vol 15 (13) ◽  
pp. 18487-18535 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Alexandri ◽  
A. K. Georgoulias ◽  
P. Zanis ◽  
E. Katragkou ◽  
A. Tsikerdekis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Solar Radiation ◽  
Regional Climate Model ◽  
Climate Model ◽  
Regional Climate ◽  
Single Scattering ◽  
Radiative Transfer Model ◽  
Asymmetry Factor ◽  
Transfer Model ◽  
Surface Solar Radiation ◽  
Microphysical Properties

Abstract. In this work, we assess the ability of RegCM4 regional climate model to simulate surface solar radiation (SSR) patterns over Europe. A decadal RegCM4 run (2000–2009) was implemented and evaluated against satellite-based observations from the Satellite Application Facility on Climate Monitoring (CM SAF) showing that the model simulates adequately the SSR patterns over the region. The bias between RegCM4 and CM SAF is +1.54 % for MFG (Meteosat First Generation) and +3.34 % for MSG (Meteosat Second Generation) observations. The relative contribution of parameters that determine the transmission of solar radiation within the atmosphere to the deviation appearing between RegCM4 and CM SAF SSR is also examined. Cloud macrophysical and microphysical properties such as cloud fractional cover (CFC), cloud optical thickness (COT) and cloud effective radius (Re) from RegCM4 are evaluated against data from CM SAF. The same procedure is repeated for aerosol optical properties such as aerosol optical depth (AOD), asymmetry factor (ASY) and single scattering albedo (SSA), as well as other parameters including surface broadband albedo (ALB) and water vapor amount (WV) using data from MACv1 aerosol climatology, from CERES satellite sensors and from ERA-Interim reanalysis. It is shown here that the good agreement between RegCM4 and satellite-based SSR observations can be partially attributed to counteracting effects among the above mentioned parameters. The contribution of each parameter to the RegCM4-CM SAF SSR deviations is estimated with the combined use of the aforementioned data and a radiative transfer model (SBDART). CFC, COT and AOD are the major determinants of these deviations; however, the other parameters also play an important role for specific regions and seasons.

A comparison of solar radiation budgets in the Mackenzie river basin from satellite measurements and a regional climate model

2002 ◽  
Vol 40 (2) ◽  
pp. 221-232 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Feng ◽  
H.G. Leighton ◽  
M.D. MacKay ◽  
N. Bussières ◽  
R. Hollmann ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Solar Radiation ◽  
Regional Climate Model ◽  
River Basin ◽  
Climate Model ◽  
Regional Climate ◽  
Satellite Measurements ◽  
Mackenzie River Basin ◽  
Mackenzie River

scholarly journals Downscaling regional climate model estimates of daily precipitation, temperature and solar radiation data

2008 ◽  
Vol 35 ◽  
pp. 181-202 ◽  
Author(s):  
M Rivington ◽  
D Miller ◽  
KB Matthews ◽  
G Russell ◽  
G Bellocchi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Solar Radiation ◽  
Regional Climate Model ◽  
Climate Model ◽  
Daily Precipitation ◽  
Regional Climate ◽  
Precipitation Temperature ◽  
Radiation Data

scholarly journals Potential Driving Factors on Surface Solar Radiation Trends over China in Recent Years

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qiuyan Wang ◽  
Hua Zhang ◽  
Martin Wild
Keyword(s):  
Solar Radiation ◽  
Cloud Cover ◽  
Southern China ◽  
Northern China ◽  
Radiative Transfer Model ◽  
Transfer Model ◽  
Surface Solar Radiation ◽  
Clear Sky ◽  
Low Cloud ◽  
Low Cloud Cover

<p>The annual mean surface solar radiation (SSR) trends under all-sky, clear-sky, all-sky-no-aerosol, and clear-sky-no-aerosol conditions as well as their possible causes are analyzed during 2005-2018 over China based on different satellite-retrieved datasets to determine the likely drivers of the trends. The results confirm clouds and aerosols as the major contributors to such all-sky SSR trends over China but playing different roles over sub-regions. Aerosol variations during this period result in a widespread brightening, while cloud effects show opposite trends from south to north. Moreover, aerosols contribute more to the increasing all-sky SSR trends over northern China, while clouds dominate the SSR declines over southern China. A radiative transfer model is used to explore the relative contributions of cloud cover from different cloud types to the all-types-of-cloud-cover-induced (ACC-induced) SSR trends during this period in four typical sub-regions over China. The simulations point out that the decreases in low-cloud-cover (LCC) over the North China Plain are the largest positive contributor of all cloud types to the marked annual and seasonal ACC-induced SSR increases, and the positive contributions from both high-cloud-cover (HCC) and LCC declines in summer and winter greatly contribute to the ACC-induced SSR increases over East China. The contributions from medium-low-cloud-cover (mid-LCC) and LCC variations dominate the ACC-caused SSR trends over southwestern and South China all year round, except for the larger HCC contribution in summer.</p>

scholarly journals Potential Driving Factors on Surface Solar Radiation Trends over China in Recent Years

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 704
Author(s):  
Qiuyan Wang ◽  
Hua Zhang ◽  
Su Yang ◽  
Qi Chen ◽  
Xixun Zhou ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Solar Radiation ◽  
Cloud Cover ◽  
Southern China ◽  
Northern China ◽  
Radiative Transfer Model ◽  
Transfer Model ◽  
Surface Solar Radiation ◽  
Clear Sky ◽  
Low Cloud ◽  
Low Cloud Cover

The annual mean surface solar radiation (SSR) trends under all-sky, clear-sky, all-sky-no-aerosol, and clear-sky-no-aerosol conditions as well as their possible causes are analyzed during 2005–2018 across China based on different satellite-retrieved datasets to determine the major drivers of the trends. The results confirm clouds and aerosols as the major contributors to such all-sky SSR trends over China but play differing roles over sub-regions. Aerosol variations during this period result in a widespread brightening, while cloud effects show opposite trends from south to north. Moreover, aerosols contribute more to the increasing all-sky SSR trends over northern China, while clouds dominate the SSR decline over southern China. A radiative transfer model is used to explore the relative contributions of cloud cover from different cloud types to the all-types-of-cloud-cover-induced (ACC-induced) SSR trends during this period in four typical sub-regions over China. The simulations point out that the decreases in low-cloud-cover (LCC) over the North China Plain are the largest positive contributor of all cloud types to the marked annual and seasonal ACC-induced SSR increases, and the positive contributions from both high-cloud-cover (HCC) and LCC declines in summer and winter greatly contribute to the ACC-induced SSR increases over East China. The contributions from medium-low-cloud-cover (mid-LCC) and LCC variations dominate the ACC-caused SSR trends over southwestern and South China all year round, except for the larger HCC contribution in summer.

scholarly journals Evaluation of Multiple Approaches to Estimate Daily Solar Radiation for Input to Crop Process Models

Atmosphere ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 8
Author(s):  
Perdinan ◽  
Julie A. Winkler ◽  
Jeffrey A. Andresen
Keyword(s):  
Solar Radiation ◽  
Regional Climate Model ◽  
Climate Model ◽  
Regional Climate ◽  
Process Models ◽  
Mechanistic Models ◽  
Area Index ◽  
Model Simulations ◽  
Climate Model Simulations ◽  
Empirical And Mechanistic Models

Daily solar radiation is a critical input for estimating plant growth and development, yet this variable is infrequently measured compared to other climate variables. This study evaluates the sensitivity of simulated maize and soybean production from the CERES-Maize and CROPGRO-Soybean modules of the Decision Support System for Agrotechnology Transfer (DSSAT) to daily solar radiation estimates obtained from traditional (stochastic, empirical, and mechanistic models) and non-traditional (satellite estimation, reanalysis datasets, and regional climate model simulations) approaches, using as an example radiation estimates for Hancock, Wisconsin, USA. When compared to observations, radiation estimates obtained from empirical and mechanistic models and a satellite-based dataset generally had smaller biases than other approaches. Daily solar radiation estimates from a reanalysis dataset and regional climate model simulations overestimate incoming daily solar radiation. When the radiation estimates were used as an input to CERES-Maize, no significant differences were found for maize yield obtained from the different radiation estimates compared to yield from observed radiation, even though differences were found in the daily values of leaf area index, crop evapotranspiration, and crop dry weight (biomass). In contrast, significant differences were found in simulated soybean yield from CROPGRO-Soybean for the majority of the radiation estimates.

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