Possible climatic impact of large scale solar thermal energy production. [Mathematical model]

Conference · Sat Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1977

OSTI ID:7310858

Potter, G L; MacCracken, M C

The ZAM2 (zonal atmospheric model) was used to estimate the climatic effects of large scale solar thermal power facilities. The results appear to be consistent with other numerical experiments. The model response can be summarized by tracing through a feedback loop: decreased surface albedo ..-->.. warmer surface ..-->.. increased evaporation and increased convection ..-->.. increased precipitation in the subtropics and increased water vapor in high latitudes ..-->.. increased surface temperatures at high latitudes ..-->.. decreased equator-to-pole temperature gradient ..-->.. decreased Hadley cell intensity ..-->.. possible northward shift of the ITCZ (intertropical convergence zone). The experiment also resulted in a warmer upper troposphere, particularly over the latitudes of maximum area of albedo change. The response was noted in Ellsaesser et al. (1976). The increased surface energy subsequently increased surface absolute humidity which in turn displaced the convective parcel ascent curve to the right (indicating more water vapor and latent heat release) making the lapse rate less steep and warmer where the water vapor content was lowest. It should be noted that ZAM2 has previously been shown to duplicate quite well the results of a 3-D GCM for large surface perturbations, which is important because it is questionable whether experiments looking at such small changes in local albedo as reported here would be possible given the synoptic variability inherent in 3-D models.

• Research Organization: California Univ., Livermore (USA). Lawrence Livermore Lab.
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• OSTI ID: 7310858
• Report Number(s): UCRL-78855; CONF-761223-1
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
140400* -- Solar Energy-- Environmental Aspects
140700 -- Solar Thermal Power Systems
ALBEDO
CLIMATES
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
FLUIDS
GASES
HUMIDITY
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
POWER PLANTS
REFLECTION
SOLAR POWER PLANTS
SOLAR THERMAL POWER PLANTS
TEMPERATURE GRADIENTS
TROPOSPHERE
VAPORS
VARIATIONS
WATER VAPOR