TRENDS OF ATMOSPHERIC TRANSPARENCY, CLOUDINESS, SOLAR RADIATION, AND SURFACE ALBEDO IN MOSCOW

G. M. Abakumova

Long-term (1955—1998) observations at the Meteorological Observatory, Moscow State University, are used to analyze changes in atmospheric transparency, radiation balance and its components, and surface albedo. A connection of total solar radiation and air and soil temperature with cloudiness is analyzed, as well as a connection between surface albedo and air temperature. It is found that in a clear-sky atmosphere the trend of atmospheric transparency and solar radiation is statistically insignificant. Under average cloudiness there is a tendency for a decrease in direct (11.3%), total (5.4%), and reflected (20.5%) radiation. It is concluded that changes in these parameters in Moscow during recent decades are caused mainly by natural processes.