Impact of Aerosols on Brazil’s Solar Energy Potential
Abstract
Given the significant impact of aerosols on downward solar irradiance, we analyzed aerosol optical depth data from multiple sources, including satellite-based, reanalysis, and ground-based observations. The goal was to assess the accuracy of these datasets to enhance atmospheric transmittance modeling for solar energy assessment in Brazil. The results indicate that the MODIS product is the most reliable and consistent for estimating aerosol optical properties, making it a preferred choice for large-scale solar energy resource mapping applications. The GOES-16 product offers high-frequency observations that can improve real-time monitoring of aerosol conditions. In contrast, CAMS reanalysis, while beneficial due to its continuous availability, demonstrated larger deviations from ground observations, suggesting the need for regional calibration adjustments.
Keywords
Atmospheric aerosols, Remote sensing, Aerosol optical depth, Surface downward solar irradiance, Radiative transfer modelling