Variability of Solar Radiation under Cloud-Free Skies in China: The Role of Aerosols
Analysis of long-term surface solar radiation and relative humidity data reveals that much of China experienced significant decreases in global solar radiation and increases in diffuse solar radiation under cloud-free skies from 1961 to 1992. Also, 1992 marked a point of transition in the trends observed for both global solar radiation (from significant decreasing to slight increasing) and diffuse radiation (from significant increasing to slight decreasing). We suggest that continuously increasing aerosol loading from emission of pollutants is responsible for the reduced global solar radiation and increased diffuse radiation in cloud-free skies from 1961 to 1992. We speculate that a decrease in relative humidity observed since 1992 may have reduced the absorption of solar radiation by atmospheric water vapor, and decreased the scattering and extinction efficiency of particles by weakening the hygroscopic growth of aerosols, despite the concurrent increasing trend in the emission of pollutants.
- Research Organization:
- Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC05-76RL01830
- OSTI ID:
- 910262
- Report Number(s):
- PNNL-SA-51615; GPRLAJ; KP1703010; TRN: US200723%%591
- Journal Information:
- Geophysical Research Letters, 34:Art. No. L12804, Vol. 34; ISSN 0094-8276
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Mechanisms Contributing to Suppressed Precipitation in Mt. Hua of Central China. Part I: Mountain Valley Circulation
Parameterizations of Cloud Microphysics and Indirect Aerosol Effects