Attenuation Of Solar Radiation By Saharan Dust

Patrick Minnis

doi:10.1117/12.957935

19 December 1979 Attenuation Of Solar Radiation By Saharan Dust

Patrick Minnis

Proceedings Volume 0195, Atmospheric Effects on Radiative Transfer; (1979) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.957935
Event: 23rd Annual Technical Symposium, 1979, San Diego, United States

Abstract

The attenuation of solar radiation by airborne Saharan dust was examined using hemispheric pyranometric data and a numerical radiative transfer routine. The analyzed data were taken as part of the GARP Atlantic Tropical Experiment (GATE) during several days in 1974. Changes in solar heating rates and atmospheric reflection and absorption due to the presence of dust were inferred from differences in the values computed from observations and those computed for a dust-free atmosphere. Measurements from dust-free days were analyzed to test the inference technique. It was determined that the Saharan dust increased the atmospheric reflection of shortwave radiation in the region by an average of 50% over clear sky values. Atmospheric absorption increased by an average of 9% in the presence of dust. These results yielded an average extinction of 61 Wm^-2 of the incoming solar flux due to Saharan dust. Observed heating rates in the dust layer were consistently higher than could be accounted for by gaseous absorption alone. Increases in heating rates did not exceed 0.10°C hr^-1.

Citation Download Citation

Patrick Minnis "Attenuation Of Solar Radiation By Saharan Dust", Proc. SPIE 0195, Atmospheric Effects on Radiative Transfer, (19 December 1979); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.957935

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