Integrating MODIS and TROPOMI Atmospheric Products into TUV for High-Accuracy Surface UV Irradiance Modeling in the Mountainous Southwest USA
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Accurate characterization of surface ultraviolet (UV) irradiance is important for public health, environmental monitoring, and atmospheric chemistry. However, this remains challenging in regions of complex terrain where atmospheric and surface heterogeneity introduce significant uncertainty. Radiative transfer (RT) models provide physically rigorous simulations but can be limited by simplified or climatological input parameters, while satellite-derived UV products offer broad spatial coverage but can exhibit some systematic biases in heterogeneous environments. This study develops and validates a multi-sensor satellite-integrated framework that combines MODIS-derived aerosol optical depth with TROPOMI-derived ozone and nitrogen dioxide within the Tropospheric Ultraviolet and Visible (TUV) radiative transfer model. The methodology is applied to three mountainous sites in the southwestern United States and evaluated under clear-sky conditions using high-resolution UV-MFRSR measurements at 332 nm and 368 nm. Results demonstrate strong agreement between modeled and observed irradiance across all sites, with coefficients of determination exceeding 0.97 and normalized RMSE generally below 6%. Model performance was consistently higher at 332 nm, while a small systematic underestimation was observed at 368 nm. The framework improves the representation of atmospheric variability and enhances irradiance prediction accuracy in complex terrain, demonstrating a scalable and accessible approach for data-sparse regions.
Source: Atmosphere
Language: English
Subfield: Global and Planetary Change
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
SDG: Climate action
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,896
Awards: G1876731017, G6485606497
OpenAlex ID: W7167094344