Solar Ultraviolet Radiation in Pretoria and Its Relations to Aerosols and Tropospheric Ozone during the Biomass Burning Season
Biomass burning has an impact on atmospheric composition as well as human health and wellbeing. In South Africa, the biomass burning season extends from July to October and affects the aerosol loading and tropospheric ozone concentrations which in turn impact solar ultraviolet radiation (UVR) levels...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-01-01
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| Series: | Atmosphere |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/12/2/132 |
| _version_ | 1827599279035777024 |
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| author | D. Jean du Preez Hassan Bencherif Thierry Portafaix Kévin Lamy Caradee Yael Wright |
| author_facet | D. Jean du Preez Hassan Bencherif Thierry Portafaix Kévin Lamy Caradee Yael Wright |
| author_sort | D. Jean du Preez |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Biomass burning has an impact on atmospheric composition as well as human health and wellbeing. In South Africa, the biomass burning season extends from July to October and affects the aerosol loading and tropospheric ozone concentrations which in turn impact solar ultraviolet radiation (UVR) levels at the surface. Using ground-based observations of aerosols, tropospheric ozone and solar UVR (as well as modelled solar UVR) we investigated the impact of aerosols and tropospheric ozone on solar UVR in August, September, and October over Pretoria. Aerosol optical depth (AOD) and tropospheric ozone reached a peak between September and October each year. On clear-sky days, the average relative difference between the modelled and observed solar Ultraviolet Index (UVI) levels (a standard indicator of surface UVR) at solar noon was 7%. Using modelled UVR—which included and excluded the effects of aerosols and tropospheric ozone from biomass burning—aerosols had a larger radiative effect compared to tropospheric ozone on UVI levels during the biomass burning season. Excluding only aerosols resulted in a 10% difference between the modelled and observed UVI, while excluding only tropospheric ozone resulted in a difference of −2%. Further understanding of the radiative effect of aerosols and trace gases, particularly in regions that are affected by emissions from biomass burning, is considered important for future research. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T04:09:35Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-51fbbed87c43422c8e4095cea5cb4267 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4433 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T04:09:35Z |
| publishDate | 2021-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Atmosphere |
| spelling | doaj.art-51fbbed87c43422c8e4095cea5cb42672023-12-03T14:01:39ZengMDPI AGAtmosphere2073-44332021-01-0112213210.3390/atmos12020132Solar Ultraviolet Radiation in Pretoria and Its Relations to Aerosols and Tropospheric Ozone during the Biomass Burning SeasonD. Jean du Preez0Hassan Bencherif1Thierry Portafaix2Kévin Lamy3Caradee Yael Wright4LACy, (UMR 8105, CNRS, Université de La Réunion, Méteo-France), 97744 Saint-Denis de La Réunion, FranceLACy, (UMR 8105, CNRS, Université de La Réunion, Méteo-France), 97744 Saint-Denis de La Réunion, FranceLACy, (UMR 8105, CNRS, Université de La Réunion, Méteo-France), 97744 Saint-Denis de La Réunion, FranceLACy, (UMR 8105, CNRS, Université de La Réunion, Méteo-France), 97744 Saint-Denis de La Réunion, FranceDepartment of Geography, Geoinformatics and Meteorology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South AfricaBiomass burning has an impact on atmospheric composition as well as human health and wellbeing. In South Africa, the biomass burning season extends from July to October and affects the aerosol loading and tropospheric ozone concentrations which in turn impact solar ultraviolet radiation (UVR) levels at the surface. Using ground-based observations of aerosols, tropospheric ozone and solar UVR (as well as modelled solar UVR) we investigated the impact of aerosols and tropospheric ozone on solar UVR in August, September, and October over Pretoria. Aerosol optical depth (AOD) and tropospheric ozone reached a peak between September and October each year. On clear-sky days, the average relative difference between the modelled and observed solar Ultraviolet Index (UVI) levels (a standard indicator of surface UVR) at solar noon was 7%. Using modelled UVR—which included and excluded the effects of aerosols and tropospheric ozone from biomass burning—aerosols had a larger radiative effect compared to tropospheric ozone on UVI levels during the biomass burning season. Excluding only aerosols resulted in a 10% difference between the modelled and observed UVI, while excluding only tropospheric ozone resulted in a difference of −2%. Further understanding of the radiative effect of aerosols and trace gases, particularly in regions that are affected by emissions from biomass burning, is considered important for future research.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/12/2/132aerosol optical depthAfricaair pollutionatmospheric scienceenvironmental healthozone |
| spellingShingle | D. Jean du Preez Hassan Bencherif Thierry Portafaix Kévin Lamy Caradee Yael Wright Solar Ultraviolet Radiation in Pretoria and Its Relations to Aerosols and Tropospheric Ozone during the Biomass Burning Season Atmosphere aerosol optical depth Africa air pollution atmospheric science environmental health ozone |
| title | Solar Ultraviolet Radiation in Pretoria and Its Relations to Aerosols and Tropospheric Ozone during the Biomass Burning Season |
| title_full | Solar Ultraviolet Radiation in Pretoria and Its Relations to Aerosols and Tropospheric Ozone during the Biomass Burning Season |
| title_fullStr | Solar Ultraviolet Radiation in Pretoria and Its Relations to Aerosols and Tropospheric Ozone during the Biomass Burning Season |
| title_full_unstemmed | Solar Ultraviolet Radiation in Pretoria and Its Relations to Aerosols and Tropospheric Ozone during the Biomass Burning Season |
| title_short | Solar Ultraviolet Radiation in Pretoria and Its Relations to Aerosols and Tropospheric Ozone during the Biomass Burning Season |
| title_sort | solar ultraviolet radiation in pretoria and its relations to aerosols and tropospheric ozone during the biomass burning season |
| topic | aerosol optical depth Africa air pollution atmospheric science environmental health ozone |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/12/2/132 |
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