S. Buntoung

An assessment of three satellite-based precipitation data sets as applied to the Thailand region

The study examines three satellite-based data sets to estimate long-term precipitation for the Thailand region: the Tropical Rainfall Mapping Mission (TRMM) 3B43, the Climate Prediction Centre morphing technique (CMORPH), and a locally developed regression model using the geostationary meteorological satellite (GMS) covering the Thailand region. Data for the first two sets were available at a spatial resolution of 0.25° × 0.25°, while the local regression model used data from the GMS at a resolution of 5 km × 5 km. The statistical regression model was developed by relating long-term monthly average precipitation from 27 rain gauge stations with concurrent satellite data in the visible and thermal infrared bands. The model was then tested against independent data from 27 rain gauge stations. Satellite/rain gauge ratios were estimated, and a smooth spline surface was used to correct the error from the model. Data from the three approaches were compared with a rain gauge network. The TRMM relation performed better than CMORPH, and the performance for GMS was comparable to TRMM with root mean square different and mean bias difference of 33.6 and 4.2%, respectively. The locally developed regression model was used to produce monthly and yearly total rainfall maps from the GMS data for the entire country.

A semi-empirical model for estimating surface solar radiation from satellite data

This paper presents a semi-empirical model for estimating surface solar radiation from satellite data for a tropical environment. The model expresses solar irradiance as a semi-empirical function of cloud index, aerosol optical depth, precipitable water, total column ozone and air mass. The cloud index data were derived from MTSAT-1R satellite, whereas the aerosol optical depth data were obtained from MODIS/Terra satellite. The total column ozone data were derived from OMI/AURA satellite and the precipitable water data were obtained from NCEP/NCAR. A five year period (2006-2010) of these data and global solar irradiance measured at four sites in Thailand namely, Chiang Mai (18.78 °N, 98.98 °E), Nakhon Pathom (13.82 °N, 100.04 °E), Ubon Ratchathani (15.25 °N, 104.87 °E) and Songkhla (7.20 °N, 100.60 °E), were used to derive the coefficients of the model. To evaluate its performance, the model was used to calculate solar radiation at four sites in Thailand namely, Phisanulok (16.93 °N, 100.24 °E), Kanchanab...

An investigation of solar erythemal ultraviolet radiation at two sites in tourist attraction areas of Thailand

Islands on the southern coasts of Thailand are famous attractions for local and foreign tourists. Tourists usually expose their skins to solar radiation for tanning. Thus information on solar ultraviolet radiation (UV) is of importance for tourists to protect themselves from adverse effects of UV. In this work, solar erythemal ultraviolet radiation (EUV) at two touristic sites namely Samui island (9.451°N, 100.033°E) and Phuket island (8.104°N, 98.304°E) was investigated. In investigating EUV, broadband UV radiometers (Kipp & Zonen, model UVS-B-C) were installed at existing meteorological stations in Samui and Phuket islands. A one-year period of EUV data from these two sites was analyzed. The level of UV index at these sites was studied. The values of UV index higher than 12 at noon time of clear days are usually found in the summer at both sites. Seasonal variation of EUV at both sites was investigated. It was found that the tropical monsoons have strong influence on this variation. Finally, global broa...

A model for the estimation of cloud cover from satellite data

In this study, an empirical model for estimating cloud cover from satellite data was developed. The skyviews were installed at 4 stations located in Chiang Mai (18.78°N, 98.98°E), Ubon Ratchathani (15.25°N, 104.87°E), Nakhon Pathom (13.82°N, 100.04°E) and Songkhla (7.20°N, 100.60°E) in order to record the images of the sky. A three - year period (2009-2011) of the cloud cover data derived from the sky images and cloud index derived from MTSAT - 1R satellite data were prepared. Based on these data, a model relating cloud cover to cloud index was formulated. To validate its performance, the model was used to calculate cloud cover at the four stations during a two - year period (2012-2013). It was found that measured and calculated cloud cover were in reasonable agreement, with root mean square differences (RMSD) and mean bias difference (MBD) of 14.9% and -3.4%, respectively.