1. September 12-16, 2016 Trieste, Italy
16th EMS Annual Meeting & 11th European Conference on Applied Climatology (ECAC)
September 12-16, 2016 Trieste, Italy
Influence of atmospheric pollution on spectral composition of incident solar radiation
Eva Gavelčíková, Marie Opálková, Martin Navrátil, Vladimír Špunda Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, University of Ostrava Chittussiho 10, Ostrava, Czech Republic
Introduction
The visible part of radiation causes the activate photosynthesis ( nm) in plants, chlorophyll synthesis (445 to 650 nm), phototropism and photomorphogenesis in plants.
The metabolic pathways of plants react to changes in ratios of the components of solar radiation which may also be affected by air pollution.
We focused on the effect of atmospheric pollutants on the spectral composition of incident solar radiation in the region with high air pollution.
Material and Methods
Two identical measuring stations at various places in Ostrava were used (Fig. 1) – first in Radvanice (very polluted air; Fig. 2), second in Poruba (less polluted air).
Data were divided according to solar elevation angles 10-20°, 20-30° and 30-40° and day time (morning – AM, afternoon – PM).
Averages of the radiation components and ratios for each solar angle interval and day time were calculated.
For analysis, only data for sunny days from October 2014 to March 2015 were used.
Hypotheses
Presumption of different spectral composition at two measuring stations due to various pollution.
Higher irradiance values for each component are estimated in Ostrava Poruba, because of lower contamination in selected days.
Significantly different ratios for both stations.
Results
The values measured at both stations differed mostly at higher solar elevation angles, but only for some components of radiation.
Large differences were observed for the Global component (Fig. 4) and for the ratio of 660/730 nm (Fig. 3).
Also components PAR, Blue and the ratio of UVB/PAR showed larger differences, but only at the solar elevation angles higher than 30°(Fig. 3).
Conclusions
Dependence of solar radiation on atmospheric pollution was evident only in some components of radiation.
The largest differences between both stations recorded at solar elevation angles higher than 30°.
Lower values of average irradiance were measured in the polluted area mainly in Global component.
Acknowledgement: This work was supported by grants SGS06/UVAFM/2016 and COST CZ LD14005.
Fig. 1. Map showing the measuring stations: Poruba Radvanice
Fig. 2. One of the measuring stations (Ostrava Radvanice).
Fig. 3: Representation of results showing the expected trend (x). „AM“ = morning, „PM“ = afternoon.
Fig. 4. Comparison of global radiation for each station SP (Poruba), SS (Radvanice) for morning (AM) and afternoon (PM) values. Representation of periods of solar elevation angles of 20°-30° and 30°-40°.