Long-term variability of annual sums of total and absorbed solar radiation in the Аrctic

Abstract

Variability of total (Q) and absorbed (Q – R) radiation after the year 2000 at some Russian Arctic stations in comparison with the long-term variability of these characteristics since the beginning of observations and until 1992 was investigated. As estimating parameters, the normalized by multiyear averages for 1961–1990 of anomalies of annual sums of total and absorbed radiation were chosen. We have analyzed the variability of total cloudiness and integral optical thickness characterizing transparency of the atmosphere as the factors producing the largest influence on total radiation incoming to the land surface. The integral optical thickness of the atmosphere in the Arctic after 2000 was most likely determined by specifics of air pollutants coming to the Arctic atmosphere and was significantly higher in the western Arctic area, than in the eastern one. After 2000 practically at all stations considered, the income of total radiation appeared to be below the multiyear average. Significant by the absolute value, but different by the sign, changes of absorbed radiation were recorded. The long-term periods of decrease and the subsequent increase of the incoming solar radiation observed at the European stations and called as “global dimming and global brightening” were not revealed at the Russian Arctic actinometric stations.