OPP.Today
Scientists have recently introduced a state-of-the-art remote sensing monitoring system for surface solar radiation, aimed at achieving the most precise monitoring capabilities in the field. This groundbreaking system was developedthe Aerospace Information Research Institute (AIR) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS). The scientists’ efforts to establish an accurate and high-resolution monitoring system have resulted in the creation of several data products that are now available on the system’s website.
Using observation data from China’s Fengyun-4 and Japan’s Himawari 8/9 geostationary meteorological satellites, the monitoring system covers the Asia-Pacific region. By combining physical-based radiative transfer models and artificial intelligence techniques, the system accounts for factors such as atmospheric gas absorption and surface reflection in regions covered with ice and snow.
The system provides 12 data products, including global, direct, and diffused components of shortwave radiation, photosynthetically active radiation, and ultraviolet-A and ultraviolet-B radiation. With impressive spatio-temporal resolution, ranging from 1 to 5 kilometers and 10 to 15 minutes, respectively, the system enables near-real-time monitoring capabilities. This high-resolution approach is particularly effective in tracking rapid changes in solar radiation under cloudy conditions and in ice and snow-covered areas like the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.
Professor Husi Letu from AIR expressed gratitude for the advancements in satellite remote sensing technology, especially the next-generation geostationary satellites such as China’s Fengyun-4. According to Prof. Letu, the newly released data products offer a valuable solution to the issues of inadequate spatiotemporal resolution, lack of information on solar radiation compositions, and the challenge of distinguishing between direct and diffused components.
The development of this high-resolution remote sensing monitoring system for surface solar radiation marks a significant milestone in our understanding and assessment of our planet’s energy dynamics. It is anticipated that the system will contribute to improved climate predictions, more accurate renewable energy assessments, and enhanced scientific research in various fields related to solar radiation.
