Effect of stratospheric aerosols on direct sunlight and implications for concentrating solar power.
Light scattering calculations and data show that stratospheric aerosols reduce direct sunlight by about 4 W for every watt reflected to outer space. The balance becomes diffuse sunlight. One consequence of deliberate enhancement of the stratospheric aerosol layer would be a significant reduction in the efficiency of solar power generation systems using parabolic or other concentrating optics. There also would be a reduction in the effectiveness of passive solar design.
Murphy
Daniel M
DM
Earth System Research Laboratory, Chemical Sciences Division, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 325 Broadway, Boulder, Colorado 80305, USA. daniel.m.murphy@noaa.gov
D000336:Aerosols; D011211:Electric Power Supplies; D013472:Sunlight
D000336:Aerosols