Open AccessAssessment of the modulation effect of rainfall on solar radiation availability at the E arth's surface
Author(s) -
DíazTorres J. J.,
HernándezMena L.,
MurilloTovar M. A.,
LeónBecerril E.,
LópezLópez A.,
SuárezPlascencia C.,
AviñaRodriguez E.,
BarradasGimate A.,
OjedaCastillo V.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
meteorological applications
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.672
H-Index - 59
eISSN - 1469-8080
pISSN - 1350-4827
DOI - 10.1002/met.1616
Subject(s) - overcast , precipitation , environmental science , atmospheric sciences , albedo (alchemy) , irradiance , energy balance , cloud cover , climatology , meteorology , sunshine duration , sky , geography , physics , cloud computing , geology , art , quantum mechanics , performance art , computer science , thermodynamics , art history , operating system
A significant proportion of the solar irradiance that reaches the E arth's surface is normally attenuated by atmospheric properties and overcast conditions related to the rainy season. The S olar A nalyst ( SA ) model, irradiance and long term precipitation data were used to assess this relationship in G uadalajara, M exico. A spatial analysis based on morphological and statistical criteria increased the model's certainty. The SA model explains 95.4% of the irradiation variability observed on the ground, with average uncertainties of 3.7% during clear sky conditions in the dry season and 4.4% on sunny days in the wet season. The meteorological data analysis shows that total precipitation in 2014 had an atypical temporal distribution and was slightly lower (12.6%) than the average from 1991 to 2012. A deficit of 39% in precipitation compared to the long term average was found in the first half of the season, which was later partially compensated. This deficit was interpreted as a temporary delay in high values of precipitation. Based on the potential average irradiation from the SA model and field observations, it can be concluded that overcast conditions related to rainfall through 2014 attenuated approximately 28.5% of the incoming solar energy. Taking the global energy balance into account, this fraction was higher in comparison to the energy proportion reflected by the cloud's albedo ( ca 23%). These results suggest that both the high proportion of energy attenuated and atypical weather conditions may be local effects of large‐scale phenomena such as the E l N iño‐ S outhern O scillation.