Interannual variability of solar irradiance over the Amazon basin including the 1982-1983 El Nino year

Journal Article · Sun Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1992 · Journal of Climate; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1175/1520-0442(1992)005<1305:IVOSIO>2.0.CO;2· OSTI ID:6883990

Pinker, R T; Laszlo, I ^[1]

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1. Univ. of Maryland, College Park (United States)

Surface solar irradiance (SW[down arrow]) was derived over the extended Amazon Basin using AVHRR observations from polar-orbiting satellites during four July months ( 1983-1986). Observations from the geostationary satellite GOES for July 1983 were also used to assess diurnal effects. Both satellite datasets are part of the Satellite Cloud Climatology Project (ISCCP) B3 product. It was demonstrated that it is now possible to derive long-term surface SW[down arrow], which can be useful in climate studies, and that the accuracy of the derived fields is sufficient to detect interannual differences that can exceed at times 70 W M[sup [minus]2]. The variability of the daily totals of SW[down arrow] from the monthly means was similar during three of the four years investigated, yet, during the El Nino year of 1982-83, north of 10[degrees]N such variability increased drastically. This increase could be attributed to a changed pattern of convective activity as a result of higher SST off the coast of Peru. For the first time, the El Nino influence on the large-scale variability of the SW[down arrow] was demonstrated.

• OSTI ID: 6883990
• Journal Information: Journal of Climate; (United States), Journal Name: Journal of Climate; (United States) Vol. 5:11; ISSN JLCLEL; ISSN 0894-8755
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540110*
540210 -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Basic Studies-- (1990-)
AMAZON RIVER
ANNUAL VARIATIONS
ATMOSPHERIC CIRCULATION
BRAZIL
CLIMATIC CHANGE
DAILY VARIATIONS
DEFORESTATION
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
ECOSYSTEMS
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
FORESTS
HYDROLOGY
LATIN AMERICA
RADIATIONS
RIVERS
SATELLITES
SOLAR RADIATION
SOUTH AMERICA
SOUTHERN OSCILLATION
STELLAR RADIATION
STREAMS
SURFACE WATERS
TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEMS
VARIATIONS