Solar Radiation Partitioning and Surface Albedo Parameterization in the Hinterland of Taklimakan Desert

Abstract

Surface albedo is one of the key parameters of land surface radiation and energy balance. As surface albedoes for visible and near-infrared solar radiation are quite different, solar radiation partitioning is important to parameterize the total surface albedo and upward solar radiation. In this paper, a surface albedo parameterization scheme was introduced and a solar radiation partitioning method was developed to improve the simulation of the upward solar radiation. The simulation results were validated in a hinterland site of the Taklimakan Desert. The surface albedo is not only associated with the soil moisture, but associated with the solar zenith angle. The solar radiation partitioning method considers the joint influences of cloud cover, near-surface air pressure, and solar zenith angle and was compared with the method using the Simple Biosphere Model version 3 (SiB3). The total albedo depends on the partitioning of the total visible and near-infrared radiations. The results indicate the surface albedo parameterization scheme is important to parameterize the upward solar radiation. The new solar radiation partitioning method could improve the simulation result.