Evaluation of the new ESR network software for the retrieval of direct sun products from CIMEL CE318 and PREDE POM01 sun-sky radiometers

The European Skynet Radiometers network (EuroSkyRad or ESR) has been recently established as a research network of European PREDE sun-sky radiometers. Moreover, ESR is federated with SKYNET, an international network of PREDE sun-sky radiometers mostly present in East Asia. In contrast to SKYNET, the European network also integrates users of the CIMEL CE318 sky–sun photometer. Keeping instrumental duality in mind, a set of open source algorithms has been developed consisting of two modules for (1) the retrieval of direct sun products (aerosol optical depth, wavelength exponent and water vapor) from the sun extinction measurements; and (2) the inversion of the sky radiance to derive other aerosol optical properties such as size distribution, single scattering albedo or refractive index. In this study we evaluate the ESR direct sun products in comparison with the AERosol RObotic NETwork (AERONET) products. Specifically, we have applied the ESR algorithm to a CIMEL CE318 and PREDE POM simultaneously for a 4-yr database measured at the Burjassot site (Valencia, Spain), and compared the resultant products with the AERONET direct sun measurements obtained with the same CIMEL CE318 sky–sun photometer. The comparison shows that aerosol optical depth differences are mostly within the nominal uncertainty of 0.003 for a standard calibration instrument, and fall within the nominal AERONET uncertainty of 0.01–0.02 for a field instrument in the spectral range 340 to 1020 nm. In the cases of the Ångström exponent and the columnar water vapor, the differences are lower than 0.02 and 0.15 cm, respectively. Therefore, we present an open source code program that can be used with both CIMEL and PREDE sky radiometers and whose results are equivalent to AERONET and SKYNET retrievals

Intercomparison of spectroradiometers and Sun photometers for the determination of the aerosol optical depth during the VELETA-2002 field campaign

[ 1] In July 2002 the VELETA-2002 field campaign was held in Sierra Nevada ( Granada) in the south of Spain. The main objectives of this field campaign were the study of the influence of elevation and atmospheric aerosols on measured UV radiation. In the first stage of the field campaign, a common calibration and intercomparison between Licor-1800 spectroradiometers and Cimel-318 Sun photometers was performed in order to assess the quality of the measurements from the whole campaign. The intercomparison of the Licor spectroradiometers showed, for both direct and global irradiances, that when the comparisons were restricted to the visible part of the spectrum the deviations were within the instruments' nominal accuracies which allows us to rely on these instruments for measuring physical properties of aerosols at the different measurement stations. A simultaneous calibration on AOD data was performed for the Cimel-318 Sun photometers. When a common calibration and methodology was applied, the deviation was lowered to much less than 0.01 for AOD. At the same time an intercomparison has been made between the AOD values given by the spectroradiometers and the Sun photometers, with deviations obtained from 0.01 to 0.03 for the AOD in the visible range, depending on the channel. In the UVA range, the AOD uncertainty was estimated to be around 0.02 and 0.05 for Cimel and Licor respectively. In general the experimental differences were in agreement with this uncertainty estimation. In the UVB range the AOD measurements should not be used due to maximum instrumental uncertainties

Validación de los datos de radiación solar UV del Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) a partir de medidas con base en tierra en la costa mediterránea

Revista oficial de la Asociación Española de Teledetección[EN] The erythemal UV daily dose (EDD) and the local noon UV Index (UVI) obtained from the Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI), on board NASA’s Aura satellite, have been validated for the period 2005-2013 using ground based measurements at 5 different sites in the Mediterranean coast: Murcia, Valencia, Palma de Mallorca, Barcelona and Rome (where only measurements of the local noon UVI were available). Ground based measurements were made using YES UVB-1 radiometers in Murcia, Valencia, Palma de Mallorca and Barcelona, and a Brewer MKIV 067 spectrophotometer in Rome. The results of the validation showed good agreement between the satellite instrument and the ground based measurements, although the OMI values overestimate the ground based measurements, being the difference between both types of measurements maximum during the spring and summer, and minimum during autumn and winter. The evolution of the EDD shows a clear seasonal behavior for all measuring sites for both, ground based and satellite data, with maximum values in summer (June and July) and minimum values in winter (December and January). A high percentage of cases (>80%) showed minimum differences (0-1 UVI units) between the UVI obtained by OMI and the UVI obtained by ground based instruments for all measuring sites. In every measuring site, high (6-7) or very high (8-10) UVI values are reached for a high percentage of the days of the analyzed period, but very few extreme (≥11) UVI values are reached. Guardar / Salir Siguiente >[ES] La Dosis Eritemática Diaria (EDD) y el Índice UV (UVI) al mediodía obtenidos con el Ozone Monitoring Ins-trument (OMI), a bordo del satélite Aura de la NASA, han sido validados para el periodo 2005-2013 utilizando medidas con base en tierra en 5 estaciones diferentes de la costa mediterránea: Murcia, Valencia, Palma de Mallorca, Barcelona y Roma (donde sólo se tienen medidas del UVI al mediodía). Las medidas con base en tierra fueron realizadas con radiómetros YES UVB-1 en Murcia, Valencia, Palma de Mallorca y Barcelona, y con un espectrofotómetro Brewer MKIV en Roma. La evolución de la EDD muestra un claro comportamiento estacional en todas las localidades, tanto para los datos de suelo como para los satelitales, con valores máximos en verano (junio y julio) y valores mínimos en invierno (diciembre y enero). Los resultados de la validación muestran una buena correlación entre los datos satelitales y las medidas con base en tierra, aunque las del OMI sobreestiman las de los instrumentos de suelo. Las diferencias entre ambos conjuntos de medidas es máxima para los meses de primavera y verano y mínima en los meses de otoño e invierno. Un elevado porcentaje de casos(>80%) presenta diferencias mínimas (0 ó 1 unidades) entre el UVI obtenido con el OMI y el obtenido con los instrumentos de suelo para todas las estaciones de medida. En todas ellas se alcanzan valores del UVI altos (6-7) o muy altos (8-10) en un elevado porcentaje de los días del periodo analizado, pero apenas se alcanzan valores del UVI extremos (≥11)Este trabajo ha sido financiando por el Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (MINECO) y el Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (FEDER) a través de los proyectos CGL2015-64785R y CGL2015-70432R, y por la Generalitat Valenciana a través del proyecto PROMETEUII/2014/058. La colaboración de F. Marchetti fue posible gracias a una beca Erasmus de la Unión Europea. También queremos agradecer a los científicos de la misión OMI y al personal de la NASA por la obtención de los datos utilizados en este trabajo.Marchetti, F.; Esteve, AR.; Siani, AM.; Martínez-Lozano, JA.; Utrillas, MP. (2016). Validation of UV solar radiation data from the Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) with ground based measurements on the Mediterranean coast. Revista de Teledetección. (47):13-22. https://doi.org/10.4995/raet.2016.5679SWORD132247Antón, M., Cachorro, V. E., Vilaplana, J. M., Toledano, C., Krotkov, N. A., Arola, A., … de la Morena, B. (2010). Comparison of UV irradiances from Aura/Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) with Brewer measurements at El Arenosillo (Spain) – Part 1: Analysis of parameter influence. Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, 10(13), 5979-5989. doi:10.5194/acp-10-5979-2010Berger, D. S., & Urbach, F. (1982). A CLIMATOLOGY OF SUNBURNING ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION. Photochemistry and Photobiology, 35(2), 187-192. doi:10.1111/j.1751-1097.1982.tb03830.xBuchard, V., Brogniez, C., Auriol, F., Bonnel, B., Lenoble, J., Tanskanen, A., … Veefkind, P. (2008). Comparison of OMI ozone and UV irradiance data with ground-based measurements at two French sites. Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, 8(16), 4517-4528. doi:10.5194/acp-8-4517-2008Cachorro, V. E., Toledano, C., Antón, M., Berjón, A., de Frutos, A., Vilaplana, J. M., … Krotkov, N. A. (2010). Comparison of UV irradiances from Aura/Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) with Brewer measurements at El Arenosillo (Spain) – Part 2: Analysis of site aerosol influence. Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, 10(23), 11867-11880. doi:10.5194/acp-10-11867-2010Casale, G. R., Meloni, D., Miano, S., Palmieri, S., Siani, A. M., & Cappellani, F. (2000). Solar UV-B irradiance and total ozone in Italy: Fluctuations and trends. Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres, 105(D4), 4895-4901. doi:10.1029/1999jd900303Diffey, B. L. (1982). The consistency of studies of ultraviolet erythema in normal human skin. Physics in Medicine and Biology, 27(5), 715-720. doi:10.1088/0031-9155/27/5/006Diffey, B. L. (1998). Ultraviolet radiation and human health. Clinics in Dermatology, 16(1), 83-89. doi:10.1016/s0738-081x(97)00172-7Gallagher, R. P., & Lee, T. K. (2006). Adverse effects of ultraviolet radiation: A brief review. Progress in Biophysics and Molecular Biology, 92(1), 119-131. doi:10.1016/j.pbiomolbio.2006.02.011Gröbner, J., Schreder, J., Kazadzis, S., Bais, A. F., Blumthaler, M., Görts, P., … Rembges, D. (2005). Traveling reference spectroradiometer for routine quality assurance of spectral solar ultraviolet irradiance measurements. Applied Optics, 44(25), 5321. doi:10.1364/ao.44.005321Ialongo, I., Casale, G. R., & Siani, A. M. (2008). Comparison of total ozone and erythemal UV data from OMI with ground-based measurements at Rome station. Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, 8(12), 3283-3289. doi:10.5194/acp-8-3283-2008Levelt, P. F., van den Oord, G. H. J., Dobber, M. R., Malkki, A., Huib Visser, Johan de Vries, … Saari, H. (2006). The ozone monitoring instrument. IEEE Transactions on Geoscience and Remote Sensing, 44(5), 1093-1101. doi:10.1109/tgrs.2006.872333McKenzie, R. L., Matthews, W. A., & Johnston, P. V. (1991). The relationship between erythemal UV and ozone, derived from spectral irradiance measurements. Geophysical Research Letters, 18(12), 2269-2272. doi:10.1029/91gl02786Norval, M. (2001). Effects of solar radiation on the human immune system. Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology B: Biology, 63(1-3), 28-40. doi:10.1016/s1011-1344(01)00200-7Norval, M. (2006). The mechanisms and consequences of ultraviolet-induced immunosuppression. Progress in Biophysics and Molecular Biology, 92(1), 108-118. doi:10.1016/j.pbiomolbio.2006.02.009Tanskanen, A., Lindfors, A., Määttä, A., Krotkov, N., Herman, J., Kaurola, J., … Tamminen, J. (2007). Validation of daily erythemal doses from Ozone Monitoring Instrument with ground-based UV measurement data. Journal of Geophysical Research, 112(D24). doi:10.1029/2007jd00883

Sources of discrepancy between aerosol optical depth obtained from AERONET and in-situ aircraft profiles

Aerosol optical properties were measured by NOAA's Airborne Aerosol Observatory over Bondville, Illinois, during more than two years using a light aircraft. Measured properties included total light scattering, backscattering, and absorption, while calculated parameters included aerosol optical depth (AOD), Ångström exponent, single-scattering albedo, hemispheric backscatter fraction, asymmetry parameter, and submicrometer mode fraction of scattering. The in-situ aircraft measurements are compared here with AERONET measurements and retrievals of the aerosol optical properties at the same location, although it is difficult to verify the AERONET retrieval algorithm at a site that is not highly polluted. The comparison reveals discrepancies between the aerosol properties retrieved from AERONET and from in-situ aircraft measurements. These discrepancies are smaller for the AOD, while the biggest discrepancies are for the other derived aerosol properties. Possible sources of discrepancy between the AOD measured by AERONET and the one calculated from the in-situ aircraft measurements are investigated. The largest portion of the AOD discrepancy is likely due to an incorrect adjustment to ambient RH of the scattering coefficient. Another significant part (along with uncertain nephelometer truncation corrections) may come from the possibility that there might be less aerosol below the lowest flight altitude or that the aircraft inlet excludes aerosol particles larger than 5–7 μm diameter

Intercomparison of spectroradiometers and Sun photometers for the determination of the aerosol optical depth during the VELETA-2002 field campaign

[ 1] In July 2002 the VELETA-2002 field campaign was held in Sierra Nevada ( Granada) in the south of Spain. The main objectives of this field campaign were the study of the influence of elevation and atmospheric aerosols on measured UV radiation. In the first stage of the field campaign, a common calibration and intercomparison between Licor-1800 spectroradiometers and Cimel-318 Sun photometers was performed in order to assess the quality of the measurements from the whole campaign. The intercomparison of the Licor spectroradiometers showed, for both direct and global irradiances, that when the comparisons were restricted to the visible part of the spectrum the deviations were within the instruments' nominal accuracies which allows us to rely on these instruments for measuring physical properties of aerosols at the different measurement stations. A simultaneous calibration on AOD data was performed for the Cimel-318 Sun photometers. When a common calibration and methodology was applied, the deviation was lowered to much less than 0.01 for AOD. At the same time an intercomparison has been made between the AOD values given by the spectroradiometers and the Sun photometers, with deviations obtained from 0.01 to 0.03 for the AOD in the visible range, depending on the channel. In the UVA range, the AOD uncertainty was estimated to be around 0.02 and 0.05 for Cimel and Licor respectively. In general the experimental differences were in agreement with this uncertainty estimation. In the UVB range the AOD measurements should not be used due to maximum instrumental uncertainties

Medición de radiación eritémica en sitios de altura de la provincia de Salta

Se presentan resultados obtenidos al medir la Irradiancia UV eritémica (UVER) en tres lugares de Salta (Argentina) y que se encuentran a distintas alturas, durante el período Diciembre 2012 - Mayo 2013. El efecto de la altitud se determinó mediante comparación horaria, diaria y promedio mensual de UVER. Las mediciones se realizaron con radiómetros UV-S-E-T de Kipp & Zonen. Los resultados experimentales indican altos valores de UVER en la ciudad de Salta (1.232 m.s.n.m), San Carlos (1.629 m.s.n.m) y El Rosal (3.354 m.s.n.m), alrededor del mediodía solar, con valores promedios entre 3.8 - 5.7 MEDII /hs. Se midió un aumento promedio en la dosis eritémica de un 5 – 8 %/km. Los índices de radiación solar ultravioleta en ausencia de nubosidad superan la calificación de riesgo extremo. Además, se calculan tiempos de exposición de riesgo (fototipos I-IV de Fitzpatrick) y Factores de Protección Solar (FPS) necesarios según la categoría de riesgo.Results obtained by measuring the UV radiation erythematic (UVER) in three places in Salta (Argentina) at different heights, during the period December 2012-May 2013. The effect of altitude was determined by comparing hourly, daily and monthly average UVER. The measurements were performed with UV-S-E-T radiometers Kipp & Zonen. The experimental results indicate high values of UVER in the city of Salta (1,232 m), San Carlos (1,629 m) and El Rosal (3,354 m) around solar noon, with average values between 5.7- 3.8 MEDII / Hs. An average increase in erythemal doses of a 5-8 %/km was measured. The indices of solar ultraviolet radiation in the absence of cloudiness outweigh the extreme risk. Furthermore, risk exposure times are calculated (phototypes I-IV of Fitzpatrick) and Sun Protection Factor (SPF) recommended by risk categoryAsociación Argentina de Energías Renovables y Medio Ambiente (ASADES

Column aerosol characterization in a semi‐arid region around Marrakech during the WATERMED 2003 campaign

In the framework of the WATERMED (WATer use efficiency in natural vegetation and agricultural areas by Remote sensing in the MEDiterranean basin) project, an experimental field campaign was carried out in a semi‐arid region near Marrakech, Morocco, during March 2003. This work focused on the columnar aerosol characterization from spectroradiometric and photometric measurements of direct solar irradiance and sky radiance at ground level. The results show a high dependence of the aerosol optical properties on the air masses present in the area. Two periods with different aerosol loads were observed in the campaign. In the first, Atlantic‐origin aerosols showed a marine particle accumulation mode combined with a dominant mode corresponding to coarse particles of local origin. In the second period the synoptic situation changed towards a Saharan+Atlantic origin, the Atlantic influence persisting at altitude while at lower levels the presence of air masses proceeding from the Saharan desert was observed. This dry air carried a large quantity of mineral particles that increased the area's turbidity, leading to a substantial increase in the volume of the whole distribution, a displacement of the accumulation mode radius towards higher values and an increasingly evident spread of the coarse particle mode, although the radius remained the same as that in the first period of the campaign

Medición de riesgo solar en Salta

El riesgo por exposición a radiación solar en una región se mide calculando el índice Solar Ultravioleta Eritémico (IUV). Este califica el riesgo solar desde bajo (0-2), hasta extremo (11-o más) según la Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS). En este trabajo se presentan datos de IUV medidos en Salta, Argentina (24.7287 S, 65.4096 W, 1232 m.s.n.m.), durante el período Diciembre 2012 -Julio 2013. Los datos se tomaron con un radiómetro ultravioleta eritémico de Kipp & Zonen. Los resultados indican elevados valores de IUV en la ciudad de Salta alrededor del mediodía solar, con valores altos (5 11). Además, se calculan tiempos de exposición de riesgo para el fototipo cutáneo II de Fitzpatrick y Factores de Protección Solar (FPS) recomendados según la categoría de riesgo.The risk of exposure to solar radiation in a region is measured by calculating the Solar UV Index Erythemic (UVI). This index rates the solar risk from low (0-2) to extreme (11 or more) according to the World Health Organization (WHO). In this paper, UVI data is measured in Salta, Argentina (24.7287 S, 65.4096 W, 1232 m), along the period December 2012-July 2013. UV radiometer erythemic (UVER) Kipp & Zonen was used. The results show high UVI values in the city of Salta around solar noon, with high values (5 ≤ UVI <7), very high (7 ≤ UVI <11) and extreme (UVI ≥ 11). Furthermore, risk exposure times are calculated for phototype II and Sun Protection Factor (SPF) recommended according to risk category.Asociación Argentina de Energías Renovables y Medio Ambiente (ASADES

Hybrid method for selection of the optimal process of leachate treatment in waste treatment and valorization plants or landfills

“The final publication is available at Springer via http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10098-014-0834-4”Leachate from waste landfill or treatment plants is a very complex and highly contaminated liquid effluent. In its composition, it is found dissolved organic matter, inorganic salts, heavy metals, and other xenobiotic organic compounds, so it can be toxic, carcinogenic, and capable of inducing a potential risk to biota and humans. European law does not allow such leachate to leave the premises without being depolluted. There are many procedures that enable debugging, always combining different techniques. Choosing the best method to use in each case is a complex decision, as it depends on many tangible and intangible factors that must be weighed to achieve a balance between technical, cost, and environmental sustainability. It is presenting a hybrid method for choosing the optimal combination of techniques to apply in each case, by combining a multicriteria hierarchical analysis based on expert data obtained by the Delphi method with an analysis by the method of VIKOR to reach a consensus solution.Martín Utrillas, MG.; Reyes Medina, M.; Curiel Esparza, J.; Cantó Perelló, J. (2015). Hybrid method for selection of the optimal process of leachate treatment in waste treatment and valorization plants or landfills. Clean Technologies and Environmental Policy. 17(4):873-885. doi:10.1007/s10098-014-0834-4S873885174Abbas AA, Guo J, Ping LZ, Ya PY, Al-Rekabi WS (2009) Review on landfill leachate treatments. AJAS 6(4):672–684Abood AR, Bao J, Abudi Z, Zheng D, Gao C (2013) Pretreatment of nonbiodegradable landfill leachate by air stripping coupled with agitation as ammonia stripping and coagulation–flocculation processes. 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An empirical model of erythemal ultraviolet radiation in the city of Valencia, Spain

[EN] This paper presents an improved empirical model that predicts ultraviolet erythemal radiation (UVER) and considers all aspects of atmospheric conditions in Valencia, Spain. The analyzed model is a potential function whose dependent variable is UVER radiation and independent variables are the clearness index and slant ozone column. A potential regression function with all the information contributed a small coefficient of determination and one chose to use a regression potential-exponential mathematical form which improved the coefficient of similar determination. A study was carried out on the influence of season on the regression parameters. This was found to be considerable due to the clearness index. The convergence between the values calculated by the model and the experimental values was analyzed using the mean bias error (MBE) and mean absolute bias error (MABE) statistical parameters. The clearness index and ozone column intervals were analyzed and found to give an improved prediction of the UVER clearness index using regression analysis. Also, a sensitivity analysis was performed on the regression coefficients and parameters. It is important to study the effects of UVER radiation predicted by the model on human health or on agriculture crop growth and yield.The authors wish to thank the Spanish Ministry of Ciencia e Innovacion within the research project CGL2007-61813 (DORASOL). Also, the authors wish to thank Generalitat Valenciana within the project PROMETEO/2010/064. The translation of this paper was funded by the Universidad Politecnica de Valencia, Spain. We would like to thank the R&D&I Linguistic Assistance Office, Universidad Politecnica de Valencia (Spain), for granting financial support for the proof reading of this paper.Moreno Esteve, J.; Serrano, MA.; Lorente, M.; Canada, J.; Utrillas, MP. (2013). An empirical model of erythemal ultraviolet radiation in the city of Valencia, Spain. Photochemical & Photobiological Sciences. 12(9):1707-1716. doi:10.1039/c3pp25439aS1707171612