Variability of Solar Radiation in the Context of a Flat Region Highly Loaded with Aerosols

A ground-based solar measurement network with a relatively long period of operation is needed to obtain accurate information on solar radiation variability. Due to the high cost of operation and maintenance of the ground equipment, modeling solar radiation can provide valuable insights on solar resources and variability. Global reanalysis models assimilate observations from various sources to recreate past atmospheric conditions and provide estimates of surface solar radiation. Satellite-based models, spanning from empirical models relying on statistical relationships between satellite observations and ground-based irradiance measurements at specific locations, to more complex physical models that simulate the radiative transfer process through the atmosphere based on physical principles and atmospheric parameters derived from satellite observations. Since the ground measurements provide the lowest uncertainties, they are usually merged with long-term satellite data to provide the most comprehensive analysis. In this contribution, we use ground-measured data collected by a relatively dense network of solar radiation monitoring stations (SRMS) along with satellite-derived data to study the variability of solar radiation at high temporal resolution in a region of a homogenous terrain, but heavily loaded with aerosols.