Direct impact of solar farm deployment on surface longwave radiation

Abstract

Motivated by a previous study of using the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometers (MODIS) observations to quantify changes in surface shortwave spectral reflectances caused by six solar farms in the southwest United States, here we used a similar method to study the longwave effects of the same six solar farms, with emphases on surface emissivities and land surface temperature (LST). Two MODIS surface products were examined: one relying on generalized split-window algorithm while assuming emissivities from land cover classifications (MYD11A2), the other based on Temperature Emissivity Separation algorithm capable of dynamically retrieving emissivities (MYD21A2). Both products suggest that, compared to adjacent regions without changes before and after solar farm constructions, the solar farm sites have reduced outgoing radiances in three MODIS infrared window channels. Such reduction in upward longwave radiation is consistent with previous in situ measurements. The MYD11A2 results show constant emissivities before and after solar farm constructions because its land type classification algorithm is not aware of the presence of solar farms. The estimated daytime and nighttime LST reduction due to solar farm deployment are ∼1–4K and ∼0.2–0.9K, respectively. The MYD21A2 results indicate a decrease in Band 31 (10.78–11.28 μm) emissivity up to −0.01 and little change in Band 32 (11.77–12.27 μm) emissivity. The LST decreases in the MYD21A2 is slightly smaller than its counterpart in the MYD11A2. Laboratory and in situ measurements indicate the longwave emissivity of solar panels can be as low as 0.83, considerably smaller than MODIS retrieved surface emissivity over the solar farm sites. The contribution of exposed and shaded ground within the solar farm to the upward longwave radiation needs to be considered to fully explain the results. A synthesis of MODIS observations and published in situ measurements is presented. Implication for parameterizing such solar farm longwave effect in the climate models is also discussed.