Keywords
modeling, irradiance, uv index, ozone, aerosol
Start Date
1-7-2004 12:00 AM
Abstract
A major consequence of decreasing stratospheric ozone is the increase of solar ultraviolet radiation (UV) passing through the atmosphere. Ultraviolet radiation is very harmful to the entire ecosystem, including health of the human population and for that reason, in the last few decades, scientists have placed a large emphasis on monitoring UV radiation and development and use of estimation procedures. Model NEOPLANTA estimates UV irradiance under cloudless conditions on a horizontal surface and computes the UV index. Model includes effects of the absorption of UV radiation by ozone, SO2 and NO2 and absorption and scattering by aerosol and air molecules in the atmosphere. Aerosols are incorporated in model using the model OPAC that provides optical properties for ten different aerosol types. Surface influence on UV irradiance was taken into account using spectral albedo values for nine different surface types. Model can use standard atmosphere meteorological profiles but it is possible to include real time meteorological data coming from the high-level resolution mesoscale models. The capability of the model to reproduce correctly processes in atmosphere is tested by changing input parameters. The performance of the model has been tested in relation to its predictive capability of global solar irradiance in the UV range (290-400 nm). For this test we have used data recorded by the radiometer YANKEE UVB-1 biometer located on the Novi Sad University campus (45.33o N, 19.85o E, 84 m a.s.l).
Forecasting UV Index by NEOPLANTA Model: Methodology and Validation
A major consequence of decreasing stratospheric ozone is the increase of solar ultraviolet radiation (UV) passing through the atmosphere. Ultraviolet radiation is very harmful to the entire ecosystem, including health of the human population and for that reason, in the last few decades, scientists have placed a large emphasis on monitoring UV radiation and development and use of estimation procedures. Model NEOPLANTA estimates UV irradiance under cloudless conditions on a horizontal surface and computes the UV index. Model includes effects of the absorption of UV radiation by ozone, SO2 and NO2 and absorption and scattering by aerosol and air molecules in the atmosphere. Aerosols are incorporated in model using the model OPAC that provides optical properties for ten different aerosol types. Surface influence on UV irradiance was taken into account using spectral albedo values for nine different surface types. Model can use standard atmosphere meteorological profiles but it is possible to include real time meteorological data coming from the high-level resolution mesoscale models. The capability of the model to reproduce correctly processes in atmosphere is tested by changing input parameters. The performance of the model has been tested in relation to its predictive capability of global solar irradiance in the UV range (290-400 nm). For this test we have used data recorded by the radiometer YANKEE UVB-1 biometer located on the Novi Sad University campus (45.33o N, 19.85o E, 84 m a.s.l).
