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Fast calculations of the spectral diffuse-to-global ratios for approximating spectral irradiance at the street canyon level

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Abstract

Two radiative transfer models are presented that simplify calculations of street canyon spectral irradiances with minimum data input requirements, allowing better assessment of urban exposures than can be provided by standard unobstructed radiation measurements alone. Fast calculations improve the computational performance of radiation models, when numerous repetitions are required in time and location. The core of the models is the calculation of the spectral diffuse-to-global ratios (DGR) from an unobstructed global spectral measurement. The models are based on, and have been tested against, outcomes of the SMARTS2 algorithm (i.e. Simple Model of the Atmospheric Radiative Transfer of Sunshine). The modelled DGRs can then be used to partition global spectral irradiance values into their direct and diffuse components for different solar zenith angles. Finally, the effects of canyon obstructions can be evaluated independently on the direct and diffuse components, which are then recombined to give the total canyon irradiance. The first model allows ozone and aerosol inputs, while the second provides a further simplification, restricted to average ozone and aerosol contents but specifically designed for faster calculations. To assess the effect of obstructions and validate the calculations, a set of experiments with simulated obstructions (simulated canyons) were performed. The greatest source of uncertainty in the simplified calculations is in the treatment of diffuse radiation. The measurement-model agreement is therefore dependent on the region of the sky obscured and ranges from <5 % at all wavelengths to 20–40 % (wavelength dependent) when diffuse sky only is visible from the canyon.

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Acknowledgments

This work was generously funded by the Mexican Council for Science and Technology (CONACyT) (grant reference: 214428). We thank Dr Richard Kift from the Centre for Atmospheric Sciences, University of Manchester for his help in obtaining the global spectral measurements.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Atmospheric Sciences, School of Earth, Atmospheric and Environmental Sciences, University of Manchester, Simon Building, Oxford Road, Manchester, M139PL, UK

    Roberto Carrasco-Hernandez, Andrew R. D. Smedley & Ann R. Webb

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  1. Roberto Carrasco-Hernandez
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  2. Andrew R. D. Smedley
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  3. Ann R. Webb
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Correspondence to Roberto Carrasco-Hernandez.

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Carrasco-Hernandez, R., Smedley, A.R.D. & Webb, A.R. Fast calculations of the spectral diffuse-to-global ratios for approximating spectral irradiance at the street canyon level. Theor Appl Climatol 124, 1065–1077 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00704-015-1473-3

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