Model for estimating atmospheric ozone content over Europe for use in solar radiation algorithms

Part of the attenuation of the incoming solar radiation by the atmosphere is caused by ozone absorption in the UV and visible portions of the spectrum. Ozone absorption typically accounts for only 2-3 % of the global solar radiation depletion, but it is often 10-20 % of the absorption of the direct component. Thus, broadband solar radiation models require atmospheric ozone content as input in order to correctly calculate the direct component. Van Heuklon in 1979 described the general spatial and temporal characteristics of the ozone column in the atmosphere with an empirical mathematical relationship that can be easily incorporated into solar radiation transmission models (codes). The model requires only the day of the year, the latitude and longitude of the location of interest in order to calculate the total ozone column for that place and time, based upon observed climatological averages. In this study, the validity of van Heuklon’s formula for the atmospheric ozone content estimation is tested against satellite measurements for a number of cities in Europe. A new model based on the van Heuklon formula is fitted, with promising results.