Recently, the National Tibetan Plateau Scientific Data Center, as a data repository for scientific papers, shared the “Near-Global Scale Surface Shortwave Radiation, Photosynthetically Active Radiation, and Ultraviolet Radiation Dataset (2018.6-2019.6)”, developed by Researcher Husi Letu and Researcher Shi Chong (first author) from the Chinese Academy of Sciences’ Aerospace Information Research Institute and their team. This dataset is derived from a high-precision monitoring system for surface solar radiation based on a multi-satellite network, primarily utilizing the latest generation of geostationary satellites. The system integrates key technologies developed by the team over the years, including atmospheric ice crystal particle light scattering models, rapid radiative transfer models, and remote sensing inversion methods for cloud and aerosol physical parameters, achieving high-precision detection of surface solar radiation, effectively equipping the Earth’s surface with a “sunlight scanner” that can accurately monitor changes in surface solar radiation at near-global scale, providing precise data support for clean energy utilization, agricultural yield estimation, and climate change response. The related research results were published in the journal The Innovation.
Surface solar radiation refers to the sunlight received at the ground, encompassing different bands such as ultraviolet, visible, and infrared light. It not only provides the energy necessary for life on Earth but also directly influences weather changes, crop growth, and solar power generation. Satellite monitoring can continuously acquire large-scale data, making it one of the most effective methods for monitoring changes in surface solar radiation.
In this study, researchers constructed a multi-satellite network surface solar radiation observation (GSNO) system based on the latest generation of geostationary satellites internationally. This system successfully achieved continuous and seamless monitoring of surface solar radiation across Asia, Europe, North America, South America, Oceania, and Africa, addressing the issues of low observation frequency of polar orbit satellites and limited observation areas of single geostationary satellites. “Through our years of effort, this system has achieved a leap from regional to near-global observation through multi-satellite network observation. The system can simultaneously analyze near-global solar shortwave radiation, photosynthetically active radiation, ultraviolet A/B radiation, and their direct and scattered components,” said Researcher Husi Letu from the Aerospace Institute.
Currently, the system can provide near-global surface solar radiation monitoring data with a spatial resolution of 5 kilometers and an observation frequency of once per hour, achieving a significant improvement in spatial resolution and simultaneously enhancing monitoring accuracy, allowing for precise capture of local radiation changes such as typhoon paths and the Tibetan Plateau.
Figure: Multi-Satellite Network Surface Solar Radiation Observation (GSNO) System and ResultsData Citation:Shi Chong, Husi Letu, Ma Run, Sun Qixiang. (2024). Near-Global Scale Surface Shortwave Radiation, Photosynthetically Active Radiation, and Ultraviolet Radiation Dataset (2018.6-2019.6). National Tibetan Plateau Data Center. https://doi.org/10.11888/Atmos.tpdc.301728. https://cstr.cn/18406.11.Atmos.tpdc.301728.Shi, C., Husi, L., Ma, R., Sun, Q. (2024). Surface shortwave radiation, photosynthetic available radiation, and ultraviolet radiation dataset at a near-global scale (2018.6-2019.6). National Tibetan Plateau / Third Pole Environment Data Center. https://doi.org/10.11888/Atmos.tpdc.301728. https://cstr.cn/18406.11.Atmos.tpdc.301728.Article Citation:Shi, C., Letu, H., Nakajima, T. Y., Nakajima, T., Wei, L., Xu, R., … Shi, G. (2025). Near-global monitoring of surface solar radiation through the construction of a geostationary satellite network observation system. The Innovation, 100876. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.xinn.2025.100876
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