Assessment of the modulation effect of rainfall on solar radiation availability at the Earth's surface

Abstract

A significant proportion of the solar irradiance that reaches the Earth's surface is normally attenuated by atmospheric properties and overcast conditions related to the rainy season. The Solar Analyst (SA) model, irradiance and long term precipitation data were used to assess this relationship in Guadalajara, Mexico. A spatial analysis based on morphological and statistical criteria increased the model's certainty. The SA model explains 95.4% of the irradiation variability observed on the ground, with average uncertainties of 3.7% during clear sky conditions in the dry season and 4.4% on sunny days in the wet season. The meteorological data analysis shows that total precipitation in 2014 had an atypical temporal distribution and was slightly lower (12.6%) than the average from 1991 to 2012. A deficit of 39% in precipitation compared to the long term average was found in the first half of the season, which was later partially compensated. This deficit was interpreted as a temporary delay in high values of precipitation. Based on the potential average irradiation from the SA model and field observations, it can be concluded that overcast conditions related to rainfall through 2014 attenuated approximately 28.5% of the incoming solar energy. Taking the global energy balance into account, this fraction was higher in comparison to the energy proportion reflected by the cloud's albedo (ca 23%). These results suggest that both the high proportion of energy attenuated and atypical weather conditions may be local effects of large-scale phenomena such as the El Niño-Southern Oscillation.

Occurrence and Potential Sources of Quinones Associated with PM2.5 in Guadalajara, Mexico

“…The atmospheric formation of quinones would occur both in the warm-dry and rainy seasons [27], since the MAG is located in a region with high exposure to solar radiation [28,29]. In fact, it has been suggested that solar radiation could favor the direct photolysis of the parent PAHs -Nap, Ant, and Phe [11].…”

Effect of different shading materials on grain yield and quality of rice

“…However, at present, cloudy and rainy weather and increasing number of haze events have aroused people’s concern; In addition, the net amount of radiation reaching the earth’s surface is falling 4 ). Sichuan is the largest industrial province in southwest China, there is a serious risk of air pollution that could mask or reflect radiation reaching the plant.…”

Time Delay Evaluation on the Water-Leaving Irradiance Retrieved from Empirical Models and Satellite Imagery

“…Particularly, the water-leaving irradiance reflectance in the spring and summer-fall seasons would be interpreted as the same; however, every season has different climatic conditions. The seasonal variations and similarities of the NIR-reflectance follow a normal behavior that matches with the incoming solar irradiation temporal pattern in this region, which is characterized by normal increases in the summer season [76]; nevertheless, the temporal randomness of the rain and cloud cover distribution affects the normality of the solar irradiation availability on the water surface. Therefore, each turbidity model was limited and probed upon image taken in the own season and close to the ground-sampling dates.…”