Incoming Solar and Infrared Radiation Derived from METEOSAT: Impact on the Modeled Land Water and Energy Budget over France

Abstract

The Land Surface Analysis Satellite Applications Facility (LSA SAF) project radiation fluxes, derived from the Meteosat Second Generation (MSG) geostationary satellite, were used in the Interactions between Soil, Biosphere, and Atmosphere (ISBA) land surface model (LSM), which is a component of the Surface Externalisée (SURFEX) modeling platform. The Système d’Analyze Fournissant des Renseignements Atmosphériques à la Neige (SAFRAN) atmospheric analysis provides high-resolution atmospheric variables used to drive LSMs over France. The impact of using the incoming solar and infrared radiation fluxes [downwelling surface shortwave (DSSF) and longwave (DSLF), respectively] from either SAFRAN or LSA SAF, in ISBA, was investigated over France for 2006. In situ observations from the Flux Network (FLUXNET) were used for the verification. Daily differences between SAFRAN and LSA SAF radiation fluxes averaged over the whole year 2006 were 3.75 and 2.61 W m−2 for DSSF and DSLF, respectively, representing 2.5% and 0.8% of their average values. The LSA SAF incoming solar radiation presented a better agreement with in situ measurements at six FLUXNET stations than the SAFRAN analysis. The bias and standard deviation of differences were reduced by almost 50%. The added value of the LSA SAF products was assessed with the simulated surface temperature, soil moisture, and the water and energy fluxes. The latter quantities were improved by the use of LSA SAF satellite estimates. As many areas lack a high-resolution meteorological analysis, the LSA SAF radiative products provide new and valuable information.

Improved retrieval of direct and diffuse downwelling surface shortwave flux in cloudless atmosphere using dynamic estimates of aerosol content and type: application to the LSA-SAF project

“…In addition to global DSSF, new products of direct and diffuse DSSF are also generated. The radiation products generated by SIRAMix will be used in the future as forcing in surface, atmospheric and weather forecast models, as it is done in (Szczypta et al, 2012;Carrer et al, 2012;QuintanaSeguí et al, 2010). Due to the proximity of DSSF retrieval to the modeling of the atmospheric direct effect, SIRAMix also presents the capability of quantifying the radiative forcing at the surface due to a given atmospheric component.…”

Estimation of High-Resolution Surface Shortwave Radiative Fluxes Using SARA AOD over the Southern Great Plains

“…The net SW radiative flux, defined as the difference between the downward and upward fluxes at the Earth's surface, controls the total energy exchange between the atmosphere and land/ocean surface, and significantly affects climatic forming and change [1,2]. SW fluxes are involved in many processes such as evaporation, photosynthesis, and heating of soil and water [3,4], as well as key indicators of drought [5]. The direct component is an important factor for identifying the best locations for solar energy systems that focus on concentrating photovoltaics/solar thermal technology.…”

A MODIS-based modeling scheme for the estimation of downward surface shortwave radiation under cloud-free conditions

“…Estimation of DSSR with high spatial and temporal resolution is needed for modeling and planning purposes in various areas such as agriculture, forestry, oceanography, meteorology, and climatology. DSSR is also used as input for quantifying evapotranspiration, which is a major input in soil water balance analyses (Carrer et al 2012;Sellers et al 1997;Sellers et al 1996). Moreover, DSSR is a key factor for the determination of the best location for solar energy systems that focus on both concentrating photovoltaics and concentrating solar thermal systems.…”