PDF Nunez_et_al__20...pdf | Request a copy Full text restricted Available under University of Tasmania Standard License.

Abstract

The study develops a simple but physically based model for estimating erythemal irradiance [(UV erythemal
radiation (UVER)] for cloudless urban regions with substantial aerosol load, such as that of the Valencia environment in
Spain. The model estimates direct and diffuse UVER for cloudless aerosol-free conditions using the LibRadtran model with
a DISORT algorithm. Aerosol optical thickness for UVER (τaER) is obtained as a residual term by comparing measured
direct UVER against modelled direct UVER in the absence of aerosol load. On average, τaER is 18% higher than τ data
extrapolated to 305 nm using the CIMEL CE-318. Comparison of measured direct and diffuse UVER with model estimates
provide the single scattering albedo (ωER), which on average is 0.88 for Burjassot, Valencia.
When tested against independent data, hourly root mean square (RMS) errors are 6.2% if both aerosol properties are
known independently. The error is 7.6% when monthly averages of these aerosol properties are used to estimate hourly
erythemal irradiance in other years. However, errors are larger, at 18.0%, when monthly estimates of these aerosol properties
are used at other experimental sites in the region with no aerosol data.

Item Type:	Article
Authors/Creators:	Nunez, M and Marin, MJ and Utrillas, MP and Estelles, V and Martinez-Lozano, JA
Keywords:	semi-empirical model; UVER; aerosol optical thickness (τ ); single scattering albedo (ω)
Journal or Publication Title:	International Journal of Climatology
ISSN:	0899-8418
DOI / ID Number:	https://doi.org/10.1002/joc.2133
Additional Information:	The definitive published version is available online at: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/
Item Statistics:	View statistics for this item

Actions (login required)

Item Control Page