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Investigation about the dependence of spectral diffuse-to-direct-beam irradiance ratio on atmospheric turbidity and solar zenith angle

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An Erratum to this article was published on 14 July 2010

Summary

The modifications of the solar spectral diffuse and direct-beam irradiances as well as the diffuse-to-direct-beam ratio, Edλ/Ebλ, as a function of the aerosol optical depth, AOD, and solar zenith angle, SZA, is investigated. The Edλ/Ebλ ratios decrease rapidly with wavelength and exponential curves in the form Edλ/Ebλ = aλ−b can be fitted with a great accuracy. These curves are strongly modified by the solar spectrum distribution, which is affected by the aerosol loading, aerosol optical properties and SZA. The spectral dependence of the above Edλ/Ebλ ratios in logarithmic coordinates does not yield a straight line, while a significant departure from the linearity is revealed. The reasons for this departure are investigated in detail and it is established that the aerosol physical properties such as single scattering albedo and size distribution along with the effect of SZA are responsible. These parameters strongly affect the scattering processes in the atmosphere and as a consequence the diffuse spectral distribution. The Edλ/Ebλ ratio, which is an indicator of the atmospheric transmittance (King, 1979), exhibits a strong wavelength and aerosol-loading dependence. The observed differences between turbid and clear atmospheres constitute a manifestation of contrasting air properties and influence solar irradiance spectra. The present work aims at investigating the effect of atmospheric turbidity and SZA on the Edλ/Ebλ ratio. For this reason, two distinct cases are examined: one having different atmospheric turbidity conditions but same SZA and a second having different SZAs and same atmospheric turbidity levels.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Atmospheric Research Team, Institute for Environmental Research and Sustainable Development, National Observatory of Athens, Lofos Nymphon, Athens, Greece

    D. G. Kaskaoutis & H. D. Kambezidis

  2. Laboratory of Meteorology, Department of Physics, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece

    D. G. Kaskaoutis

  3. Hungarian Meteorological Service, Budapest, Hungary

    Z. Tóth

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  1. D. G. Kaskaoutis
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  2. H. D. Kambezidis
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  3. Z. Tóth
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An erratum to this article is available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00704-010-0309-4.

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Kaskaoutis, D., Kambezidis, H. & Tóth, Z. Investigation about the dependence of spectral diffuse-to-direct-beam irradiance ratio on atmospheric turbidity and solar zenith angle. Theor. Appl. Climatol. 89, 245–256 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00704-006-0222-z

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