Long-term Variations of Solar Radiation in Europe

E. A. Samukova, E. V. Gorbarenko, and A. E. Erokhina

Presented are the results of the analysis of the series of seasonal and annual means of short-wave solar radiation measured at 180 actinometric stations of Europe in 1964–2010. It is demonstrated that there are two strongly pronounced periods, namely, the decrease from the early 1960s to the late 1980s and the increase in the subsequent 20 years. Total solar radiation decreased by 1.8% per 10 years on average during the first period and increased by 2.9% per 10 years during the second period. The increase in solar radiation during the second period is observed at the majority of stations due to the increase in the direct solar radiation (by 8.3% per 10 years on average). The diffuse radiation decreased by 3.1% on average for that period. The highest values of the ratio of the diffuse radiation to the direct one were registered in the 1980s–early 1990s.

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