Publication Abstracts

Otterman et al. 1980

Otterman, J., Y. Kaufman, M. Podolak, and S. Ungar, 1980: Dependence of the spectral surface irradiance on aerosol properties and surface reflectivity. Sol. Energy, 24, 279-286, doi:10.1016/0038-092X(80)90485-5.

A reduction in global surface irradiance occurs with increasing aerosol loadings when the aerosols are absorbing. For scattering aerosols, a reduction is pronounced for isotropic scattering (characteristic of small particles) but reduction is not as significant for scattering with a high anisotropy of a large forward peak (characteristic of large particles). This distinction between isotropic and anisotropic scattering becomes small or null over highly reflecting terrain; and for reflectivities higher than 0.5 and solar elevation angles close to the zenith, the global irradiance can be slightly higher for isotropic scattering than in the case of an anisotropy of a forward peak. Under such conditions, which can be encountered in reflective infrared bands over dense vegetation or over sandy deserts (close to noon, in low latitudes) the surface irradiance becomes nearly independent of the aerosol optical thickness.

The above conclusions are derived based on analytical treatment of simplified single scattering approximation to the radiative transfer through a turbid atmosphere, which is valid only for a low or a moderate optical thickness.

Computations of the spectral irradiance using the explicit expression are presented in the form of tables and graphs, for two anisotropy parameters of aerosols and three surface reflectivities.

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BibTeX Citation

@article{ot01000b,
  author={Otterman, J. and Kaufman, Y. and Podolak, M. and Ungar, S.},
  title={Dependence of the spectral surface irradiance on aerosol properties and surface reflectivity},
  year={1980},
  journal={Solar Energy},
  volume={24},
  pages={279--286},
  doi={10.1016/0038-092X(80)90485-5},
}

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RIS Citation

TY  - JOUR
ID  - ot01000b
AU  - Otterman, J.
AU  - Kaufman, Y.
AU  - Podolak, M.
AU  - Ungar, S.
PY  - 1980
TI  - Dependence of the spectral surface irradiance on aerosol properties and surface reflectivity
JA  - Sol. Energy
JO  - Solar Energy
VL  - 24
SP  - 279
EP  - 286
DO  - 10.1016/0038-092X(80)90485-5
ER  -

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