1 Aerosol monitoring and analysis
A significant part of our research focuses on the optical properties of aerosols. Aerosol plays an important role in the radiation balance of the atmosphere by scattering and absorbing solar radiation reaching the earth’s surface. It is evident that, aerosols can contribute to modulating the hydrological cycle with the period of modulation ranging from days to several weeks depending on the lifetime of aerosols in the atmosphere. Up to now, the evidence supporting the effect of aerosols on cloud formation and rainfall is still unclear. As aerosols change, the properties of cloud such as size, composition, optical properties, albedo and lifetime can also change. This will in turn impact on local and global climate change. For these reasons, TAPL in collaboration with AERONET, has established a network of aerosol monitoring stations in different regions of the country (Figure 1) and a research program is being conducted with support from TRF.
Figure 1 Map showing the position of aerosol monitoring stations and instruments for measuring aerosol optical properties
2 Rainfall mapping
Thailand is in a tropical climate dominated by the southwest and northeast monsoons. It has a strong agricultural sector in need of an abundant water supply to support irrigation activities. The main source of available water in the country is from precipitation.
Thus, TAPL in collaboration with the Department of Atmospheric Science, Yunnan University, China has carried out a project on rain mapping over Thailand and Southern China. An empirical model for estimating rainfall climatology has been developed. The project was funded by TRF and NSFC (National Natural Science foundation of China).
Figure 2. Yearly rainfall maps created in the rainfall mapping project
3 Ozone
Although ozone is a small component of the atmosphere, it has an importance role in our environment. Stratospheric ozone can absorb ultraviolet radiation and tropospheric ozone acts as a greenhouse gas and is a source of pollution which contributes to global warming.
TAPL has carried out a study of ozone in Bangkok using ground-based measurement and ozonesondes to investigate meteorological factors affecting ozone mixing ratios.
Figure 3. An ozonesonde launching for measuring the atmospheric ozone in an ozone project of TAPL funded by Silpakorn Research and Development Institute
4 Cloud
Clouds are a condensed form of liquid water which includes water droplets and ice particles. Cloud formation depends on many processes and interaction between relative humidity, cloud condensation nuclei and water vapour. High cirrus clouds are believed to warm the earth atmosphere system while low-level stratocumulus clouds act to cool the system.
TAPL in collaboration with the Department of Royal Rainmaking and Agricultural Aviation has studied cloud optical properties in Northern Thailand using ground, aircraft and satellite based data. The project was funded by TRF.
Figure 4. Cloud cover map of Thailand presented in the research project funded by TRF
5 Water vapour
Water vapour plays an important role in the atmosphere heat balance. It can absorb shortwave radiation and also longwave radiation and acts as a natural greenhouse gas, which contributes to warm the atmosphere. It is also influential in weather and climate, especially in Thailand where its atmosphere consists of high water vapour.
TAPL is carrying out a project of investigation of atmospheric water vapour in Thailand. This project is supported by TRF. The project is currently under way (Nov, 2015- Nov, 2017).
6 UV radiation
Solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation represents the highest energy photons reaching the earth’s surface and as a result it is associated with various detrimental effects on human health, animals and plants. Solar UV radiation also drives chemical and biological processes in the stratosphere and troposphere. Moreover, the quality of material such as plastic, wood and paints can be degraded by UV radiation. However, there are some beneficial effects of UV radiation on human health such as vitamin D production in human skin.
TAPL has carried out a project of investigating UV radiation in Thailand since 2006 which is supported by TRF. In the project, a physical model to estimate erythemal UV radiation over Thailand has been developed for mapping UV radiation over Thailand. As a result, the spatial and temporal distributions of UV radiation have been examined (Figure 5).
Figure 5. Geographical distribution of long-term monthly average erythemal UV daily dose over Thailand.
7 Longwave radiation
Information on the amount of downward longwave radiation at the earth surface is important in many fields such as meteorology and climate science. In meteorology, downward longwave radiation is required for effectively forecasting frosts and fogs. It is also needed for estimating the energy budget of the earth's surface.
TAPL is conducting a study which estimates longwave radiation over Thailand using satellite data.
8 Wind
A wind energy potential for Thailand involves knowledge on the temporal and spatial variability of wind speed in the country. Among the renewable energy resources, wind power is a large energy resource with proven technologies and low emission of greenhouse gases. The generation of electricity from wind energy rapidly increases especially in mid and high latitude countries due to abundant wind resources. In Thailand, it is necessary to know information on the wind speed of the country.
TAPL with collaboration with the Department of Alternative Energy Development and Efficiency (DEDE) and Karlsruhe University, Germany has carried out a project to evaluate quantitatively the wind energy potential for Thailand.
Figure 6. Geographical distribution of mean wind speed at the height of 10 m above the ground, produced in the project of TAPL together with DEDE
