SOLAR RADIATIVE EFFECT OF THE EL CHICHÓN VOLCANIC ERUPTION

Using the data of the clear-sky solar radiation observed between winter 1964 to winter 1983,it is shown from the analysis that significant and sustained change of the direct radiation, scattered radiation and total radiation in China are caused by the El Chichón volcanic eruption between 28 March and 4 April 1982.The Effect feature is found to be consistent with the radiative effect caused by a few great volcanic in last 100 years. The primary cause was the changing of the atmospheric transparency as a result of the strongly back scattering and absorption of radiation by the volcanic aerosol.