Definition of the Subject
Solar radiation incident at the Earth’s surface is the ultimate energy source for life on the planet, and largely determines the climatic conditions of our habitats. The amount of solar energy reaching the surface is a major component of the surface energy balance and governs a large number of diverse surface processes, such as evaporation and associated hydrological components, snow and glacier melt, plant photosynthesis and related terrestrial carbon uptake, as well as the diurnal and seasonal course of surface temperatures.
It has also major practical implications, for example, for solar energy technologies and agricultural productivity. Changes in the amount of solar energy reaching the Earth’s surface can therefore have profound environmental, societal, and economic implications. There is increasing evidence that the amount of solar radiation incident at the Earth’s surface is not stable over the years but...
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Abbreviations
- Brightening:
-
Describes the evidence for a partial recovery from prior dimming at many locations between the 1980s and 2000.
- Dimming:
-
Also known as “global dimming,” a popular expression coined to describe the evidence for a widespread decline in surface solar radiation between the 1950s and 1980s.
- Early brightening:
-
Describes the evidence for an increase in surface solar radiation during the 1930s and 1940s seen in the longest surface radiation records in Europe.
- Pyranometer:
-
Measurement device to record the total flux (diffuse and direct) of solar radiation incident on a horizontal plane at the Earth surface.
- Surface solar radiation:
-
Also known as “global radiation” or “surface insolation,” refers to the solar radiation (sunlight) incident at the Earth’s surface.
Bibliography
Wild M (2010) Introduction to special section on global dimming and brightening. J Geophys Res Atmos 115:D00d00. doi:10.1029/2009jd012841
Ohmura A, Gilgen H, Wild M (1989) Global energy balance archive GEBA, world climate program – water project A7. Rep, Zuerich
Gilgen H, Wild M, Ohmura A (1998) Means and trends of shortwave irradiance at the surface estimated from global energy balance archive data. J Climate 11:2042–2061
Dutton EG, Nelson DW, Stone RS, Longenecker D, Carbaugh G, Harris JM, Wendell J (2006) Decadal variations in surface solar irradiance as observed in a globally remote network. J Geophys Res Atmos 111:D19101. doi:10.1029/2005jd006901
Shi GY, Hayasaka T, Ohmura A, Chen ZH, Wang B, Zhao JQ, Che HZ, Xu L (2008) Data quality assessment and the long-term trend of ground solar radiation in China. J Appl Meteorol Climatol 47:1006–1016. doi:10.1175/2007jamc1493.1
Alpert P, Kishcha P, Kaufman YJ, Schwarzbard R (2005) Global dimming or local dimming?: effect of urbanization on sunlight availability. Geophys Res Lett 32:L17802. doi:10.1029/2005gl023320
Ohmura A, Dutton EG, Forgan B, Frohlich C, Gilgen H, Hegner H, Heimo A, Konig-Langlo G, McArthur B, Muller G, Philipona R, Pinker R, Whitlock CH, Dehne K, Wild M (1998) Baseline Surface Radiation Network (BSRN/WCRP): new precision radiometry for climate research. Bull Am Meteorol Soc 79:2115–2136
Ackerman TP, Stokes GM (2003) The atmospheric radiation measurement program. Phys Today 56:38–44
Stokes GM, Schwartz SE (1994) The atmospheric radiation – measurement (Arm) program – programmatic background and design of the cloud and radiation test-bed. Bull Am Meteorol Soc 75:1201–1221
Augustine JA, DeLuisi JJ, Long CN (2000) SURFRAD – a national surface radiation budget network for atmospheric research. Bull Am Meteorol Soc 81:2341–2357
Philipona R, Durr B, Marty C, Ohmura A, Wild M (2004) Radiative forcing – measured at Earth’s surface – corroborate the increasing greenhouse effect. Geophys Res Lett 31:L03202. doi:10.1029/2003gl018765
Pinker RT, Zhang B, Dutton EG (2005) Do satellites detect trends in surface solar radiation? Science 308:850–854. doi:10.1126/science.1103159
Hatzianastassiou N, Matsoukas C, Fotiadi A, Pavlakis KG, Drakakis E, Hatzidimitriou D, Vardavas I (2005) Global distribution of Earth’s surface shortwave radiation budget. Atmos Chem Phys 5:2847–2867
Hinkelman LM, Stackhouse PW, Wielicki BA, Zhang TP, Wilson SR (2009) Surface insolation trends from satellite and ground measurements: comparisons and challenges. J Geophys Res Atmos 114:D00d20. doi:10.1029/2008jd011004
Evan AT, Heidinger AK, Vimont DJ (2007) Arguments against a physical long-term trend in global ISCCP cloud amounts. Geophys Res Lett 34:L04701. doi:10.1029/2006gl028083
Makowski K, Jaeger EB, Chiacchio M, Wild M, Ewen T, Ohmura A (2009) On the relationship between diurnal temperature range and surface solar radiation in Europe. J Geophys Res Atmos 114:D00d07. doi:10.1029/2008jd011104
Sanchez-Lorenzo A, Brunetti M, Calbo J, Martin-Vide J (2007) Recent spatial and temporal variability and trends of sunshine duration over the Iberian Peninsula from a homogenized data set. J Geophys Res Atmos 112:D20115. doi:10.1029/2007jd008677
Sanchez-Lorenzo A, Calbo J, Martin-Vide J (2008) Spatial and temporal trends in sunshine duration over Western Europe (1938–2004). J Climate 21:6089–6098. doi:10.1175/2008jcli2442.1
Roderick ML, Farquhar GD (2002) The cause of decreased pan evaporation over the past 50 years. Science 298:1410–1411
Ohmura A, Lang H (1989) Secular variations of global radiation in Europe. A. Deepak, Lille, pp 98–301
Russak V (1990) Trends of solar radiation, cloudiness and atmospheric transparency during recent decades in Estonia. Tellus 42B:206–210
Dutton EG, Stone RS, Nelson DW, Mendonca BG (1991) Recent interannual variations in solar-radiation, cloudiness, and surface-temperature at the south-pole. J Climate 4:848–858
Stanhill G, Moreshet S (1992) Global radiation climate changes – the world network. Clim Change 21:57–75
Stanhill G, Moreshet S (1994) Global radiation climate-change at 7 sites remote from surface sources of pollution. Clim Change 26:89–103
Liepert BG, Fabian P, Grassl H (1994) Solar radiation in Germany – observed trends and assessment of their causes; Part I: regional approach. Beitr Phys Atmos 67:15–29
Abakumova GM, Feigelson EM, Russak V, Stadnik VV (1996) Evaluation of long-term changes in radiation, cloudiness, and surface temperature on the territory of the former soviet union. J Climate 9:1319–1327
Stanhill G, Cohen S (2001) Global dimming: a review of the evidence for a widespread and significant reduction in global radiation with discussion of its probable causes and possible agricultural consequences. Agric Forest Meteorol 107:255–278
Wild M (2009) Global dimming and brightening: a review. J Geophys Res Atmos 114:D00d16. doi:10.1029/2008jd011470
Liepert BG (2002) Observed reductions of surface solar radiation at sites in the United States and worldwide from 1961 to 1990. Geophys Res Lett 29:1421. doi:10.1029/2002gl014910
Wild M, Gilgen H, Roesch A, Ohmura A, Long CN, Dutton EG, Forgan B, Kallis A, Russak V, Tsvetkov A (2005) From dimming to brightening: decadal changes in solar radiation at Earth’s surface. Science 308:847–850. doi:10.1126/science.1103215
Ramanathan V, Chung C, Kim D, Bettge T, Buja L, Kiehl JT, Washington WM, Fu Q, Sikka DR, Wild M (2005) Atmospheric brown clouds: impacts on South Asian climate and hydrological cycle. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 102:5326–5333. doi:10.1073/pnas.0500656102
Kumari BP, Londhe AL, Daniel S, Jadhav DB (2007) Observational evidence of solar dimming: offsetting surface warming over India. Geophys Res Lett 34:L21810. doi:10.1029/2007gl031133
Norris JR, Wild M (2007) Trends in aerosol radiative effects over Europe inferred from observed cloud cover, solar “dimming” and solar “brightening”. J Geophys Res Atmos 112:D08214. doi:10.1029/2006jd007794
Norris JR, Wild M (2009) Trends in aerosol radiative effects over China and Japan inferred from observed cloud cover, solar “dimming,” and solar “brightening”. J Geophys Res Atmos 114:D00d15. doi:10.1029/2008jd011378
Streets DG, Wu Y, Chin M (2006) Two-decadal aerosol trends as a likely explanation of the global dimming/brightening transition. Geophys Res Lett 33:L15806. doi:10.1029/2006gl026471
Streets DG, Yan F, Chin M, Diehl T, Mahowald N, Schultz M, Wild M, Wu Y, Yu C (2009) Anthropogenic and natural contributions to regional trends in aerosol optical depth, 1980–2006. J Geophys Res Atmos 114:D00d18. doi:10.1029/2008jd011624
Mishchenko MI, Geogdzhayev IV, Rossow WB, Cairns B, Carlson BE, Lacis AA, Liu L, Travis LD (2007) Long-term satellite record reveals likely recent aerosol trend. Science 315:1543–1543. doi:10.1126/science.1136709
Russak V (2009) Changes in solar radiation and their influence on temperature trend in Estonia (1955–2007). J Geophys Res Atmos 114:D00d01. doi:10.1029/2008jd010613
Ohvril H, Teral H, Neiman L, Kannel M, Uustare M, Tee M, Russak V, Okulov O, Joeveer A, Kallis A, Ohvril T, Terez EI, Terez GA, Gushchin GK, Abakumova GM, Gorbarenko EV, Tsvetkov AV, Laulainen N (2009) Global dimming and brightening versus atmospheric column transparency, Europe, 1906–2007. J Geophys Res Atmos 114:D00d12. doi:10.1029/2008jd010644
Liley JB (2009) New Zealand dimming and brightening. J Geophys Res Atmos 114:D00d10. doi:10.1029/2008jd011401
Long CN, Dutton EG, Augustine JA, Wiscombe W, Wild M, McFarlane SA, Flynn CJ (2009) Significant decadal brightening of downwelling shortwave in the continental United States. J Geophys Res Atmos 114:D00d06. doi:10.1029/2008jd011263
Wild M, Ohmura A, Makowski K (2007) Impact of global dimming and brightening on global warming. Geophys Res Lett 34:L04702. doi:10.1029/2006gl028031
Wild M, Truessel B, Ohmura A, Long CN, Konig-Langlo G, Dutton EG, Tsvetkov A (2009) Global dimming and brightening: an update beyond 2000. J Geophys Res Atmos 114:D00d13. doi:10.1029/2008jd011382
Loeb NG, Wielicki BA, Rose FG, Doelling DR (2007) Variability in global top-of-atmosphere shortwave radiation between 2000 and 2005. Geophys Res Lett 34:L03704. doi:10.1029/2006gl028196
Ohmura A (2009) Observed decadal variations in surface solar radiation and their causes. J Geophys Res Atmos 114:D00d05. doi:10.1029/2008jd011290
McConnell JR, Edwards R, Kok GL, Flanner MG, Zender CS, Saltzman ES, Banta JR, Pasteris DR, Carter MM, Kahl JDW (2007) 20th-century industrial black carbon emissions altered arctic climate forcing. Science 317:1381–1384. doi:10.1126/science.1144856
Wild M, Ohmura A (2004) BSRN longwave downward radiation measurements combined with GCMs show promise for greenhouse detection studies. GEWEX News 14:9–10
Wild M, Grieser J, Schaer C (2008) Combined surface solar brightening and increasing greenhouse effect support recent intensification of the global land-based hydrological cycle. Geophys Res Lett 35:L17706. doi:10.1029/2008gl034842
Wild M, Ohmura A, Cubasch U (1997) GCM-simulated surface energy fluxes in climate change experiments. J Climate 10:3093–3110
Ruckstuhl C, Philipona R, Behrens K, Coen MC, Durr B, Heimo A, Matzler C, Nyeki S, Ohmura A, Vuilleumier L, Weller M, Wehrli C, Zelenka A (2008) Aerosol and cloud effects on solar brightening and the recent rapid warming. Geophys Res Lett 35:L12708. doi:10.1029/2008gl034228
Philipona R, Behrens K, Ruckstuhl C (2009) How declining aerosols and rising greenhouse gases forced rapid warming in Europe since the 1980s. Geophys Res Lett 36:L02806. doi:10.1029/2008gl036350
Wild M (2009) How well do IPCC-AR4/CMIP3 climate models simulate global dimming/brightening and twentieth-century daytime and nighttime warming? J Geophys Res Atmos 114:D00d11. doi:10.1029/2008jd011372
Wild M, Schmucki E (2010) Assessment of global dimming and brightening in IPCC-AR4/CMIP3 models and ERA40. Clim Dynam. doi:10.1007/s00382-010-0939-3
Ruckstuhl C, Norris JR (2009) How do aerosol histories affect solar “dimming” and “brightening” over Europe?: IPCC-AR4 models versus observations. J Geophys Res Atmos 114:D00d04. doi:10.1029/2008jd011066
Wild M, Ohmura A, Gilgen H, Rosenfeld D (2004) On the consistency of trends in radiation and temperature records and implications for the global hydrological cycle. Geophys Res Lett 31:L11201. doi:10.1029/2003gl019188
Wild M, Liepert B (2010) The Earth radiation balance as driver of the global hydrological cycle. Environ Res Lett 5:Artn 025003. doi:10.1088/1748-9326/5/2/025003
Robock A, Li HB (2006) Solar dimming and CO2 effects on soil moisture trends. Geophys Res Lett 33:L20708. doi:10.1029/2006gl027585
Ohmura A, Bauder A, Muller H, Kappenberger G (2007) Long-term change of mass balance and the role of radiation. Ann Glaciol 46:367–374
Mercado LM, Bellouin N, Sitch S, Boucher O, Huntingford C, Wild M, Cox PM (2009) Impact of changes in diffuse radiation on the global land carbon sink. Nature 458:1014–U87. doi:10.1038/Nature07949
Mitchell TD, Jones PD (2005) An improved method of constructing a database of monthly climate observations and associated high-resolution grids. Int J Climatol 25:693–712. doi:10.1002/Joc.1181
Acknowledgments
I acknowledge support from the National Centre for Competence in Climate Research (NCCR Climate) of the Swiss National Science Foundation. This entry contributes to the efforts of the working group “Global Energy Balance” of the International Radiation Commission (IRC).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2012 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC
About this entry
Cite this entry
Wild, M. (2012). Solar Radiation Versus Climate Change . In: Meyers, R.A. (eds) Encyclopedia of Sustainability Science and Technology. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-0851-3_448
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-0851-3_448
Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY
Print ISBN: 978-0-387-89469-0
Online ISBN: 978-1-4419-0851-3
eBook Packages: Earth and Environmental ScienceReference Module Physical and Materials ScienceReference Module Earth and Environmental Sciences