• Energy Research

In this paper, we illustrate a new, simple and complementary ground-based methodology to retrieve the vertically resolved atmospheric precipitation intensity through a synergy between measurements from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Micropulse Lidar network (MPLNET), an analytical model solution and ground-based disdrometer measurements. The presented results are obtained at two mid-latitude MPLNET permanent observational sites, located respectively at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, USA, and at the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain. The methodology is suitable to be applied to existing and/or future lidar/ceilometer networks with the main objective of either providing near real-time (3 h latency) rainfall intensity measurements and/or to validate satellite missions, especially for critical light precipitation (<3 mm h−1).

Lidar investigation of temporal and vertical optical atmospheric properties will play a key role in the future for a continuous monitoring over the whole planet through world ground based networks. The EZ Lidar(TM), manufactured by LEOSPHERE, has been validated in several campaigns as that one in Southern Great Plains (ARM) or at Goddard Space Flight Center (NASA). An EZ LIDAR(TM) with cross-polarization capabilities was deployed in Kanpur, India in the frame of TIGER-Z campaign organized by NASA/AERONET in order to measure aerosol microphysical and optical properties in the Gange basin. In addition, 12 sun-photometers were deployed during this campaign and CALIPSO (The Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observation) data were also acquired. In this work we present the results in retrieving aerosol extinction and backscattering from EZ Lidar(TM) measurements, and the validation of the space borne instrument CALIPSO under the satellite track. EZ Lidar(TM) is also coupled with the photometers to provide the measurements of the Aerosol Optical Depth over the selected region.

Over the past few decades, the concentrating photovoltaic systems, a source of clean and renewable energy, often fully integrated into the roof structure, have been commonly installed on private houses and public buildings. The purpose of those panels is to transform the incoming solar radiation into electricity thanks to the photovoltaic effect. The produced electric power is affected, in the first instance, by the solar panel efficiency and its technical characteristics, but it is also strictly dependent on site elevation, the meteorological conditions and on the presence of the atmospheric constituents, i.e., clouds, hydrometeors, gas molecules and sub-micron-sized particles suspended in the atmosphere that can scatter and absorb the incoming shortwave solar radiation. The Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD) is an adimensional wavelength-dependent atmospheric column variable that accounts for aerosol concentration. AOD can be used as a proxy to evaluate the concentration of surface particulate matter and atmospheric column turbidity, which in turn affects the solar panel energy production. In this manuscript, a new technique is developed to retrieve the AOD at 550 nm through an iterative process: the atmospheric optical depth, incremented in steps of 0.01, is used as input together with the direct and diffuse radiation fluxes computed by Fu–Liou–Gu Radiative Transfer Model, to forecast the produced electric energy by a photovoltaic panel through a simple model. The process will stop at that AOD value (at 550 nm), for which the forecast electric power will match the real produced electric power by the photovoltaic panel within a previously defined threshold. This proof of concept is the first step of a wider project that aims to develop a user-friendly smartphone application where photovoltaic panel owners, once downloaded it on a voluntary basis, can turn their photovoltaic system into a sunphotometer to continuously retrieve the AOD, and more importantly, to monitor the air quality and detect strong air pollution episodes that pose a threat for population health.

Climate change and air pollution are two major issues posing threats to the population living in large metropolitan areas. In the last years, the increase in frequency of severe weather events due to climate change and air pollution episodes, is of high concern in terms of property damages and life losses. Insight from future projections, urbanization will significantly influence climate change in the coming decades. More importantly, recent studies found significant evidences regarding the mutual interaction between climate change and air pollution, which could magnify the adverse impacts on both environment and society. For example, air pollution extreme events such as haze can be modulated by local weather conditions. Adverse scenarios from climate change can be directly and indirectly influenced by aerosol concentrations as well as optical properties. All of these environmental extremes are not only being the determinants that can damage the earth system but also adversely influencing human health due to an unfavorable condition caused by compact urban environment paired with a high population density. Although half of the global population is living in urban areas, interactions between climate change, aerosol pollution and public health risk in an urban context have yet to be fully explored.