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Influence of anthropogenic aerosol on solar radiation in Europe

Abstract

Backscatter of solar radiation by aerosol and the cooling thus induced, is the single largest uncertainty factor in assessing the climate effect of the greenhouse gases. The dominant reason for the uncertainty in the aerosol effect is its local nature. Therefore it is only via localized efforts that estimates can be improved. It is the aim of the present study to better assess the amount of solar radiation intercepted by aerosol, especially that of aerosol of anthropogenic origin in Europe. The assessment is realized along three interconnected approaches. First, empirical factors stemming from measurements in the US and used in the present estimates of the reflection of solar radiation by anthropogenic aerosol are checked for their validity in the European domain. Secondly, historical data on solar flux in Europe are related to the historic trend in aerosol loading. Finally, a sophisticated aerosol and cloud (radiation) module is developed for incorporation in a climate model. The radiation module uses aerosol characteristics as measured in the field and is validated via solar radiation measurements. The concerted investigation started in January 1993. The data obtained in the first phase of the study formed the basis for the definite detailed approach and will therefore  More>>
Authors:
Publication Date:
Dec 01, 1993
Product Type:
Technical Report
Report Number:
ECN-RX-93-115
Reference Number:
SCA: 540120; PA: ECN-94:0E0407; EDB-94:065330; NTS-94:013763; SN: 94001173893
Resource Relation:
Other Information: DN: This text is submitted for publication in the proceedings of the 74th annual meeting of the American Meteorological Society, 23-28 January 1994, Nashville, TN (US); PBD: Dec 1993
Subject:
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES; AEROSOLS; REFLECTION; SOLAR RADIATION; CLIMATIC CHANGE; EUROPE; GREENHOUSE EFFECT; SOLAR FLUX; CLIMATE MODELS; 540120; CHEMICALS MONITORING AND TRANSPORT
OSTI ID:
10142783
Research Organizations:
Netherlands Energy Research Foundation (ECN), Petten (Netherlands)
Country of Origin:
Netherlands
Language:
English
Other Identifying Numbers:
Other: ON: DE94753899; TRN: NL94E0407
Availability:
OSTI; NTIS; Available from the library of the Netherlands Energy Research Foundation (ECN), P.O. Box 1, 1755 ZG Petten (Netherlands)
Submitting Site:
ECN
Size:
6 p.
Announcement Date:
Jul 05, 2005

Citation Formats

Ten Brink, H M. Influence of anthropogenic aerosol on solar radiation in Europe. Netherlands: N. p., 1993. Web.
Ten Brink, H M. Influence of anthropogenic aerosol on solar radiation in Europe. Netherlands.
Ten Brink, H M. 1993. "Influence of anthropogenic aerosol on solar radiation in Europe." Netherlands.
@misc{etde_10142783,
title = {Influence of anthropogenic aerosol on solar radiation in Europe}
author = {Ten Brink, H M}
abstractNote = {Backscatter of solar radiation by aerosol and the cooling thus induced, is the single largest uncertainty factor in assessing the climate effect of the greenhouse gases. The dominant reason for the uncertainty in the aerosol effect is its local nature. Therefore it is only via localized efforts that estimates can be improved. It is the aim of the present study to better assess the amount of solar radiation intercepted by aerosol, especially that of aerosol of anthropogenic origin in Europe. The assessment is realized along three interconnected approaches. First, empirical factors stemming from measurements in the US and used in the present estimates of the reflection of solar radiation by anthropogenic aerosol are checked for their validity in the European domain. Secondly, historical data on solar flux in Europe are related to the historic trend in aerosol loading. Finally, a sophisticated aerosol and cloud (radiation) module is developed for incorporation in a climate model. The radiation module uses aerosol characteristics as measured in the field and is validated via solar radiation measurements. The concerted investigation started in January 1993. The data obtained in the first phase of the study formed the basis for the definite detailed approach and will therefore be reported in this text. 1 fig., 9 refs.}
place = {Netherlands}
year = {1993}
month = {Dec}
}