Conditions influencing incoming global solar radiation in Hornsund (Spitsbergen) in spring 2015

This article analyses the conditions affecting the incoming global solar radiation in Hornsund (Spitsbergen) in spring of 2015. Incoming solar radiation turned out to be average for the season under analysis, as compared with longer-term data. The clearness index (KT) was 0.46, and was mainly determ...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Polish Polar Research
Main Authors: Uscka-Kowalkowska Joanna, Markowicz Krzysztof M., Przybylak Rajmund, Araźny Andrzej
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Polish Academy of Sciences 2017
Subjects:
Arctic
Spitsbergen
global solar radiation
cloudiness
sunshine duration
aerosol optical depth
Geology
QE1-996.5
Hornsund
Polar Research
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1515/popore-2017-0021
https://doaj.org/article/e8b862ec690c4e7dae568ea611540432
Description
Summary:This article analyses the conditions affecting the incoming global solar radiation in Hornsund (Spitsbergen) in spring of 2015. Incoming solar radiation turned out to be average for the season under analysis, as compared with longer-term data. The clearness index (KT) was 0.46, and was mainly determined by the extent of cloudiness. As a result of differences in the length of day, sunshine duration in May was greater than in April. Incoming solar radiation to the earth’s surface is also affected by the atmospheric optical properties. The average value of aerosol optical depth (AOD) at 500 nm in Hornsund in spring of 2015 was 0.087. In the analysed period, increased values of AOD at 500 nm (up to 0.143) were observed, although these are not record values. Over April and May, the greatest part of optical depth was comprised of anthropogenic aerosols (41%), followed by marine aerosols (26%), desert dust (21%) and biomass-burning aerosols (12%). This indicates the significant role of the anthropogenic factor in the climatic conditions of Spitsbergen.

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