Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Influences of the clearness index on UV solar radiation for two locations in the Tibetan Plateau-Lhasa and Haibei

  • Published:
Advances in Atmospheric Sciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Ultraviolet (UV) solar radiation has a significant influence on human health, the environment and climate. A series of measurements, including UV radiation (290–400 nm) and global solar radiation (R s), were continuously recorded from August 2004 at the Lhasa and Haibei sites on the Tibetan Plateau. Both observation sites’ altitudes are above 3000 m and have similar meteorological conditions. The data from 2005–2006 was used to identify the varying characteristics of UV radiation. It’s relation to the clearness index K s, the relative optical mass m r, and R s were established. The annual mean values of total daily UV radiation are 0.92 and 0.67 MJ m−2 at Lhasa and Haibei, respectively. The UV radiation in Lhasa represented 4.6% of the global solar radiation while in Haibei this percentage was 4.2%. In the case of clear days (K s > 0.8), these percentages ranged between 4.0% and 4.5% in Lhasa and between 5.1% and 5.5% in Haibei. In the case of cloudy days (K s < 0.4), these percentages ranged from 4.4% to 6.8% in Lhasa and from 5.1% to 5.5% in Haibei. The maximum values of UV radiation for each relative optical mass diminished exponentially with m r. Thus, for Lhasa and Haibei, UV=46.25m −1.294 , and UV=51.76m −1.42r , respectively. The results of this study can be used to obtain more UV radiation data for the study of UV climate characteristics, the effects of UV on ecological processes and the feedback of the thinning of the stratospheric ozone, from more routine measurements R s data.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Al-Aruri, S. D., 1990: The empirical relationship between global radiation and global ultraviolet (0.290–0.385) µm solar radiation components. Solar Energy, 45, 61–64.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ambach, W., M. Blumthaler, and G. Wendler, 1991: A comparison of ultraviolet radiation measured at antarctic and alpine site. Solar Energy, 47, 121–126.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bian, L. G., L. H. Lu, and P. Q. Jia, 1996: The characteristics of ultraviolet radiation in 1993–1994 at the Larsemann hills, Antarctica. Antarctica Research, 8, 29–35. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Bian, J., G. Wang, H. Chen, D. Qi, D. Lu, and X. Zhou, 2006: Ozone mini-hole occurring over the Tibetan Plateau in December 2003. Chinese Science Bulletin, 51, 885–888.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Blumthaler, M., W. Ambach, and M. Salzgeber, 1994: Effects of cloudness on global and diffuse UV irradiance in a high-mountain area. Theor. Appl. Climatol., 50, 23–30.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bojkov, R. D., 1997: Global Ozone Change and Possible Climate Implications, in Solar Ultraviolet Radiation, Modelling, Measurements and Effects. NATO ASI Ser., Vol. 52, C. S. Zerefos and A. F. Bais, Eds., Springer-Verlag, New York, 303–324.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bruce, W., 1996: A new method for calibrating reference and field pyranometers. J. Atmos. Oceanic Technol., 13, 638–645.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Caňada, J., G. Pedrós, A. López, and J. V. Boscá, 2000: Influences of the clearness index for the whole spectrum and of the relative optical air mass on UV solar irradiance for two locations in the Mediterranean area, Valencia and Cordoba. J. Geophys. Res., 105, 4659–4766.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cui, X. Y., S. Gu, X. Zhao, J. Wu, T. Kato, and Y. Tang, 2008: Diurnal and seasonal variations of UV radiation on the northern edge of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. Agricultural Forest Meteorology, 148, 144–151.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chu, D., C. R. Pubu, and D. Bian, 2002: A preliminary study of the biologically effective Ultraviolet radiation of the Lhasa area. Chinese J. Atmos. Sci., 26, 481–486. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Díaz, S., G. Deferrari, D. Martinioni, and A. Oberto, 2000: Regression analysis of biologically effective integrated irradiances versus ozone, clouds and geometric factors. Journal of Atmospheric and Solar-Terrestrial Physics, 62, 629–638.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Diffey, B. L., 1991: Solar ultraviolet radiation effects on biological systems. Physics in Medicine and Biology, 36, 299–328.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Diffey, B. L., 2004: Climate change, ozone depletion and the impact on ultraviolet exposure of human skin. Physics in Medicine and Biology, 49, 1–11.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Duan, A. M., and G. X. Wu, 2005: Role of the Tibetan Plateau thermal forcing in the summer climate patterns over subtropical Asia. Climate Dyn., 24, 793–807.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Elhadidy, M. A., D. Y. Abdel-Nabi, and P. D. Kruss, 1990: Ultraviolet solar radiation at Dhahran, Saudi Arabia. Solar Energy, 44, 315–319.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Foyo-moreno, I., J. Vida, and L. Alados-arboledas, 1999: A simple all weather model to estimate Ultraviolet solar radiation (290–385 nm). J. Appl. Meteor., 38, 1020–1026.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gallaghera, R. P., and T. K. Leea, 2006: Adverse effects of ultraviolet radiation: A brief review. Progress in Biophysics and Molecular Biology, 92, 119–131.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Geiger, M., L. Diabaté, L. Ménard, and L. Wald, 2002: A web service for controlling the quality of measurements of global radiation. Solar Energy, 73(6), 475–480.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gueymard, C. A., 2004: The sun’s total and spectral irradiance for solar energy applications and solar radiation models. Atmos. Res., 76, 423–453.

    Google Scholar 

  • Guo, S., X. J. Zhou, and X. C. Zhang, 1994: The primary analyze of UV-B and atmospheric ozone measurement over Tibetan Plateau. Chinese Science Bulletin, 39, 50–53. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Ji, G. L., 1997: Advanced in energy budget observation experiment over the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau. Plateau Meteorology, 16, 1–8. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Jiang, H., G. L. Ji, S. B. Shi, G.Y. Beng, and F. Han, 1998: The characteristics of Ultraviolet radiation variation over the northern Tibetan Plateau. Acta Energiae Solaris Sinica, 19, 1–17. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Kasten, F., and A. T. Young, 1989: Revised optical air mass tables and approximation formula. Appl. Opt., 28, 4735–4738.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Khogali, A., and O. F. Al-Bar, 1992: A study of solar ultraviolet radiation at Makkah solar station. Solar Energy, 48, 79–87.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li, Y. N., W. Y. Wang, L. Zhao, X. Q. Zhao, G. M. Cao, and S. B. Shi, 2002: The characteristics of ultraviolet radiation and its physiology effect on the plants in the area of Haibei alpine meadow of Qilian Mountain. Plateau Meteorology, 21, 615–621. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Liu, B. Y. H., and R. C. Jordan, 1960: The interrelationship and characteristic distribution of direct, diffuse and total solar radiation. Solar Energy, 4, 1–19.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Manabe, S., and A. J. Broccoli, 1990: Mountains and arid climate of middle latitudes. Science, 247, 192–195.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Martinez, L. J. A., A. J. Casanovas, and M. P. Utrillas, 1994: Comparison of global ultraviolet (290–385 nm) and global irradiation measured during the warm season in Valencia, Spain. International Journal of Climatology, 14, 93–102.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McKenzie, R. L., P. V. Johnston, D. Smale, B. A. Barry, and S. Madronich, 2001: Altitude effects on UV spectral irradiance deduced from measurements at Lauder, New Zealand, and at Mauna Loa Observatory, Hawaii. J. Geophys. Res., 106, 22845–22860.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nemeth, P., Z. Toth, and Z. Nagy, 1996: Effect of weather conditions on UV-B radiation reaching the earth’s surface. Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology B: Biology, 32, 177–181.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ogunjobi, K. O., Z. He, K. W. Kim, and Y. J. Kim, 2004: Aerosol optical depth during episodes of Asian dust storms and biomass burning at Kwangju, South Korea. Atmos. Environ., 38, 1313–1323.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Outer, K., P. N. Den, H. Slaper, and R. B. Tax, 2005: UV radiation in the Netherlands: Assessing long-term variability and trends in relation to ozone and clouds. J. Geophys. Res., 110, D02203, doi:10.1029/2004JD004824.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Piazena, H., 1996: The effect of altitude upon the solar UV-B and UV-A irradiance in the topical Chilean Andes. Solar Energy, 57, 133–140.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Seckmeyer, G., B. Mayer, G. Bernhard, A. Albold, R. Erb, H. Jaeger, and W. R. Stockwell, 1997: New maximum UV irradiance levels observed in Central Europe. Atmos. Environ., 31, 2971–2976.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Slaper, H., and T. Koskela, 1997: Methodology of intercomparing spectral sky measurements, correcting for wavelength shifts, slit function differences and defining a spectral reference. The Nordic Intercomparison of Ultraviolet and Total Ozone Instruments at Izana, October 1996, Kjeldstad et al., Eds., Finland Meteorology Institute, Helsinki, 89–108.

    Google Scholar 

  • Su, W. Y., T. P. Charlock, and F. G. Rose, 2005: Deriving surface ultraviolet radiation from CERES surface and atmospheric radiation budget: Methodology. J. Geophys. Res., 110, D14209, doi: 10.1029/2005JD005794.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tian, G., Z. Lin, and X. Wu, 1982: Some characteristics of ultrariolet visual and infra-red radiation in eastern Tibet during the growing season. Acta Meteorologica Sinica, 40, 344–352. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Udo, S., 2000: Sky conditions at Ilorin as characterized by clearness index and relative sunshine. Solar Energy, 69, 45–53.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), 2003: Environmental Effects of Ozone Depletion and its Interactions with Climate Change: 2002 Assessment, Nairobi, Kenya, 177pp.

  • Wald, L. and Coauthors, 2000: European Solar Radiation Atlas, including CDROM. 4th ed., Greif et al.,Eds, Published for the Commission of the European Communities by Presses de l’Ecole, Ecole des Mines de Paris, France. [Available online from http://www.helioclim.net/esra/].

    Google Scholar 

  • WHO, 2006: Public health and the environment’s solar ultraviolet radiation. Global burden of disease from solar ultraviolet radiation, 2006, No. 13.

  • Xin, J., and Coauthors, 2007: AOD and Angstrom exponent of aerosols observed by the Chinese Sun Hazemeter Network from August 2004 to September 2005. J. Geophys. Res., 112, D05203, doi:10.1029/2006JD007075.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yanai, M., C. Li, and Z. Song, 1992: Seasonal heating of the Tibetan Plateau and its effects on the evolution of the Asian summer monsoon. J. Meteor. Soc. Japan, 70, 319–351.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhou, X. J., W. L. Li, L. X. Chen, and Y. Liu, 2004: Study of ozone change over Tibetan Plateau. Acta Meteorologica Sinica, 62, 513–527. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhou, X., W. Li, L. Chen, and Y. Liu, 2006: Study on ozone change over the Tibetan Plateau. Acta Meterorlogica Sinica, 20, 129–143.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhou, Y., 1986: UV radiation in China. Acta Geographic Sinica, 41, 132–143. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Boundary Layer Physics and Atmospheric Chemistry (LAPC), Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100029, China

    Bo Hu  (胡 波), Yuesi Wang  (王跃思) & Guangren Liu  (刘广仁)

Authors
  1. Bo Hu  (胡 波)
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Yuesi Wang  (王跃思)
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Guangren Liu  (刘广仁)
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Yuesi Wang  (王跃思).

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Hu, B., Wang, Y. & Liu, G. Influences of the clearness index on UV solar radiation for two locations in the Tibetan Plateau-Lhasa and Haibei. Adv. Atmos. Sci. 25, 885–896 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00376-008-0885-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00376-008-0885-8

Key words

Search

Navigation