Unraveling solar irradiance dynamics in arid atmospheres: A multi-decadal wavelet coherence and probability density functions analysis with implications for air quality, climate, and renewable energy
Baqer Al-Ramadan, Adel S. Aldosary, Abdulla Al Kafy, Hamad Ahmed Altuwaijri, Zullyadini A. Rahaman
{"title":"Unraveling solar irradiance dynamics in arid atmospheres: A multi-decadal wavelet coherence and probability density functions analysis with implications for air quality, climate, and renewable energy","authors":"Baqer Al-Ramadan, Adel S. Aldosary, Abdulla Al Kafy, Hamad Ahmed Altuwaijri, Zullyadini A. Rahaman","doi":"10.1007/s11869-025-01718-3","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Solar irradiance (SI) is a critical driver of atmospheric processes, with significant implications for air quality, climate change, and renewable energy potential. This study provides the first comprehensive assessment of decadal SI variability and trends across six major Saudi Arabian cities from 1984–2022, utilizing advanced statistical techniques including probability density functions, Mann–Kendall tests, and wavelet coherence analysis. Results reveal significant spatiotemporal variability in SI trends. Mean annual SI increased in five cities, with the highest rise in Buraydah (5.20 to 6.10 kW/m<sup>2</sup>/day) and decrease only in Dammam (5.35 to 5.24 kW/m<sup>2</sup>/day) from 1984–1993 to 2014–2022. Monthly probability density function analysis showed reduced SI variability and right-shifted distributions in recent decades for most cities. Mann–Kendall tests indicated increasing SI trends in Jeddah, Madinah, and Tabuk in the last decade, with declining trends elsewhere. Wavelet analysis revealed complex temporal patterns, with initial increases followed by recent declines in most cities. The average SI of 6.18 kW/m<sup>2</sup>/day across cities translates to a potential solar energy production of 406 kWh/year/m<sup>2</sup> at 18% efficiency. This study provides crucial insights for regional air quality modeling, climate change assessment, and renewable energy planning in arid regions, supporting Saudi Arabia's transition towards sustainable energy sources and improved environmental management.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":49109,"journal":{"name":"Air Quality Atmosphere and Health","volume":"18 5","pages":"1463 - 1487"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9000,"publicationDate":"2025-03-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Air Quality Atmosphere and Health","FirstCategoryId":"93","ListUrlMain":"https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11869-025-01718-3","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q3","JCRName":"ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Solar irradiance (SI) is a critical driver of atmospheric processes, with significant implications for air quality, climate change, and renewable energy potential. This study provides the first comprehensive assessment of decadal SI variability and trends across six major Saudi Arabian cities from 1984–2022, utilizing advanced statistical techniques including probability density functions, Mann–Kendall tests, and wavelet coherence analysis. Results reveal significant spatiotemporal variability in SI trends. Mean annual SI increased in five cities, with the highest rise in Buraydah (5.20 to 6.10 kW/m2/day) and decrease only in Dammam (5.35 to 5.24 kW/m2/day) from 1984–1993 to 2014–2022. Monthly probability density function analysis showed reduced SI variability and right-shifted distributions in recent decades for most cities. Mann–Kendall tests indicated increasing SI trends in Jeddah, Madinah, and Tabuk in the last decade, with declining trends elsewhere. Wavelet analysis revealed complex temporal patterns, with initial increases followed by recent declines in most cities. The average SI of 6.18 kW/m2/day across cities translates to a potential solar energy production of 406 kWh/year/m2 at 18% efficiency. This study provides crucial insights for regional air quality modeling, climate change assessment, and renewable energy planning in arid regions, supporting Saudi Arabia's transition towards sustainable energy sources and improved environmental management.
期刊介绍:
Air Quality, Atmosphere, and Health is a multidisciplinary journal which, by its very name, illustrates the broad range of work it publishes and which focuses on atmospheric consequences of human activities and their implications for human and ecological health.
It offers research papers, critical literature reviews and commentaries, as well as special issues devoted to topical subjects or themes.
International in scope, the journal presents papers that inform and stimulate a global readership, as the topic addressed are global in their import. Consequently, we do not encourage submission of papers involving local data that relate to local problems. Unless they demonstrate wide applicability, these are better submitted to national or regional journals.
Air Quality, Atmosphere & Health addresses such topics as acid precipitation; airborne particulate matter; air quality monitoring and management; exposure assessment; risk assessment; indoor air quality; atmospheric chemistry; atmospheric modeling and prediction; air pollution climatology; climate change and air quality; air pollution measurement; atmospheric impact assessment; forest-fire emissions; atmospheric science; greenhouse gases; health and ecological effects; clean air technology; regional and global change and satellite measurements.
This journal benefits a diverse audience of researchers, public health officials and policy makers addressing problems that call for solutions based in evidence from atmospheric and exposure assessment scientists, epidemiologists, and risk assessors. Publication in the journal affords the opportunity to reach beyond defined disciplinary niches to this broader readership.