Relative Contributions of Clouds and Aerosols to Surface Erythemal UV and Global Horizontal Irradiance in Korea

Jaemin Kim, Yun Gon Lee, Ja-Ho Koo and Hanlim Lee
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Jaemin Kim: Department of Atmospheric Sciences, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 34134, Korea
Yun Gon Lee: Department of Atmospheric Sciences, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 34134, Korea
Ja-Ho Koo: Department of Atmospheric Sciences, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Korea
Hanlim Lee: Division of Earth Environmental System Science Major of Spatial Information Engineering, Pukyong National University, Busan 48513, Korea

Energies, 2020, vol. 13, issue 6, 1-15

Abstract: The attenuating effects of clouds and aerosols on global horizontal irradiance (GHI) and ultraviolet erythemal irradiance (UVER) were evaluated and compared using data from four sites in South Korea (Gangneung, Pohang, Mokpo, and Gosan) for the period 2005–2016. It was found that GHI and UVER are affected differently by various attenuating factors, resulting in an increase in the ratio of UVER to GHI with a decrease in the clearness index of GHI. A comparative analysis of the clearness indices of GHI and UVER identified an almost linear relationship between two transmittances by applying UVER with fixed slant ozone ( UVER 300 ) and there was a latitudinal difference in the relationship. Some nonlinearity remained in this relationship, which suggests a contribution by other factors such as clouds and aerosols. Variations of the UVER 300 ratio to GHI with cloud cover and aerosol optical depth were analyzed. The ratio increased with cloud cover and decreased with aerosol optical depth, indicating that clouds attenuate GHI more efficiently than UVER and that the attenuation by aerosols is greater for UVER than for GHI. A multiple linear regression analysis of the clearness indices of GHI and UVER 300 quantitively demonstrates differences in the radiation-reducing effects of clouds and aerosols, with some regional differences by site that can be attributed to local climatic characteristics in South Korea.

Keywords: solar irradiance; ultraviolet erythemal irradiance; clearness index; attenuating factors; individual contribution (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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