Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:
https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/25471
Title: | Total ozone column, water vapour and aerosol effects on erythemal and global solar irradiance in Marsaxlokk, Malta |
Authors: | Bilbao, Julia Roman, Roberto Yousif, Charles Mateos, David Miguel, Argimiro de |
Keywords: | Solar radiation Ultraviolet radiation |
Issue Date: | 2014 |
Publisher: | Elsevier Ltd |
Citation: | Bilbao, J., Román, R., Yousif, C., Mateos, D., & de Miguel, A. (2014). Total ozone column, water vapour and aerosol effects on erythemal and global solar irradiance in Marsaxlokk, Malta. Atmospheric Environment, 99, 508-518. |
Abstract: | Observations of erythemal (UVER; 280-400nm) and total solar shortwave irradiance (SW; 305-2800nm), total ozone column (TOC), water vapour column (w), aerosol optical depth (AOD) and Ångström exponent (α) were carried out at Marsaxlokk, in south-east Malta. These measurements were recorded during a measurement campaign between May and October 2012, aimed at studying the influence of atmospheric compounds on solar radiation transfer through the atmosphere. The effects of TOC, AOD and w on UVER and SW (global, diffuse and direct) irradiance were quantified using irradiance values under cloud-free conditions at different fixed solar zenith angles (SZA). Results show that UVER (but not SW) irradiance correlates well with TOC. UVER variations ranged between-0.24%DU-1 and-0.32%DU-1 with all changes being statistically significant. Global SW irradiance varies with water vapour column between-2.44%cm-1 and-4.53%cm-1, these results proving statistically significant and diminishing when SZA increases. The irradiance variations range between 42.15%cm-1 and 20.30%cm-1 for diffuse SW when SZA varies between 20° and 70°. The effect of aerosols on global UVER is stronger than on global SW. Aerosols cause a UVER reduction of between 28.12% and 52.41% and a global SW reduction between 13.46% and 41.41% per AOD550 unit. Empirical results show that solar position plays a determinant role, that there is a negligible effect of ozone on SW radiation, and stronger attenuation by aerosol particles in UVER radiation. |
URI: | https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar//handle/123456789/25471 |
Appears in Collections: | Scholarly Works - InsSE |
Files in This Item:
File | Description | Size | Format | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1-s2.0-S1352231014007821-main.pdf Restricted Access | 1.96 MB | Adobe PDF | View/Open Request a copy |
Items in OAR@UM are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.