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In the recent years, great progress has been made in developing terrestrial and satellite-based networks for the measurement of atmospheric parameters, which serve as inputs in clear sky parametric models. However, some parameters may still be missing from the model input due to small temporal sampling or lack of in situ data. This paper presents a case study on the accuracy of the clear-sky solar irradiance estimation by a parametric model, when the availability of inputs is limited. The study was conducted with high-quality radiometric and atmospheric data recorded by the INOE-Magurele station, Romania. Seven different scenarios were studied. In each scenario the clear-sky solar irradiance model was run assuming that certain parameters are missing from the input. The results quantitatively confirm the dominant role of aerosols in establishing the accuracy of solar irradiance estimation under clear sky conditions. The unavailability of the measured Ångström turbidity coefficient may lead to a twofold/threefold increase in the uncertainty of direct-normal/diffuse solar irradiance estimation.

This study documents a complex fire event that occurred on October 2016, in Middle East belligerent area. Two fire outbreaks were detected by different spacecraft monitoring instruments on board of TERRA, CALIPSO and AURA Earth Observation missions. Link with local weather conditions was examined using ERA Interim Reanalysis and CAMS datasets. The detection of the event by multiple sensors enabled a detailed characterization of fires and the comparison with different observational data.