In this study, we present comprehensive climatologies of effective ultraviolet (UV) quantities and photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) over Cyprus for the period 2004 to 2023, leveraging the synergy of earth observation (EO) data and radiative transfer model simulations. The EO dataset, encompassing satellite and reanalysis data for aerosols, total ozone column, and water vapor, alongside cloud modification factors, captures the nuanced dynamics of Cyprus’s atmospheric conditions. With a temporal resolution of 15 min and a spatial of 0.05° × 0.05°, these climatologies undergo rigorous validation against established satellite datasets and are further evaluated through comparisons with ground-based global horizontal irradiance measurements provided by the Meteorological Office of Cyprus. This dual-method validation approach not only underscores the models’ accuracy but also highlights its proficiency in capturing intra-daily cloud coverage variations. Our analysis extends to investigating the long-term trends of these solar radiation quantities, examining their interplay with changes in cloud attenuation, aerosol optical depth (AOD), and total ozone column (TOC). Significant decreasing trends in the noon ultraviolet index (UVI), ranging from −2 to −4% per decade, have been found in autumn, especially marked in the island’s northeastern part, mainly originating from the (significant) positive trends in TOC. The significant decreasing trends in TOC, of −2 to −3% per decade, which were found in spring, do not result in correspondingly significant positive trends in the noon UVI since variations in cloudiness and aerosols also have a strong impact on the UVI in this season. The seasonal trends in the day light integral (DLI) were generally not significant. These insights provide a valuable foundation for further studies aimed at developing public health strategies and enhancing agricultural productivity, highlighting the critical importance of accurate and high-resolution climatological data.

A brief overview of the newly established Solar Radiation and Energy Laboratory of the Eratosthenes’ Centre of Excellence is provided. The laboratory focuses on fundamental research and practical applications related to solar radiation levels, radiative transfer modeling, and atmospheric effects. The laboratory’s goal is to establish a scientific foundation that will support some of the most important sectors of the EU and Cyprus Smart Specialization Strategy, including energy, tourism, health, and agriculture, and become a reference point for the Eastern Mediterranean, Middle East, and North African region. Finally, some preliminary results concerning solar radiation climatology and a system for clear-sky ultraviolet index forecast over Cyprus are presented.

Atmospheric aerosols are among the key factors affecting the Earth’s radiation budget, playing a fundamental role in understanding climate forcing, feedback mechanisms, and their impact on future climate projections and on solar energy systems. More specifically, dust aerosol particles, which are characterized by high complexity of their optical and microphysical properties, remain one of the most uncertain components. In this study, we focus on four severe dust events across multiple sites in the broader Mediterranean Basin between 2021 and 2022. We employ a combination of ground-based remote sensing observations along with Radiative Transfer (RT) modelling, with the libRadtran package and METAL-WRF scheme, as well as photovoltaic (PV) power generation simulations using the Global Solar Energy Estimator (GSEE) to investigate the impact of the different optical and geometrical aspects of these events on solar radiation and solar energy. The results revealed that the strongest dust-induced attenuation was systematically observed in the direct component of solar radiation (DNI), with maximum losses frequently exceeding 60–80%, while Global Horizontal Irradiance (GHI) typically ranged between 5% and 25%. These findings were reflected directly into substantial PV power output losses, for both fixed tilt and two-axis tracking systems, reaching ~45% and 80%, respectively, with the impact on the latter being significantly higher due to their strong dependence on DNI. A sensitivity analysis based on how aerosol optical properties and solar geometry jointly influence PV energy production revealed that Solar Zenith Angle (SZA) plays the most dominant role, followed by Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD), which leads to strong attenuation independently of SZA under altered aerosol load conditions. Finally, the comparison of the modelled PV output estimated from the modelled irradiances based on the two different RT models with the PV output considering ground-based GHI measurements revealed a similar agreement under clear sky conditions, while under cloudy conditions, the analysis revealed the critical role of the diffuse horizontal irradiance (DHI) component in the simulations.

Wildfire detection remains a critical challenge for authorities, with human activity being the leading cause. The historical conditions prevailing in burned forest areas require a comprehensive analysis at both the environmental and anthropogenic levels. This study presents a multidimensional dataset comprising data from 2008 to 2024 and integrating Earth observation data and anthropogenic, environmental, meteorological, topographic, and fire-related features. This study evaluates, through time series analysis, the impact of climate trends such as increased temperature in comparison with anthropogenic activities such as deliberate fires. Time series analysis reveals that although climatic conditions with increased temperature and reduced precipitation in Cyprus intensify the risk of fire, the presence of fire events is primarily due to deliberate actions. The findings of this study support national-scale fire modeling, offering a foundation for targeted prevention, early warning systems, and sustainable forest fire management strategies.

Dust events frequently affect the Mediterranean Basin, however, the evolution of their optical and microphysical properties during transport remains poorly characterized. This study examines four major dust outbreaks in 2021–2022 affecting the Mediterranean, originating from the Eastern, Western, and Central Sahara and the Middle East. Combining ground-based AERONET sun photometers (24 stations), satellite (IASI, MODIS MIDAS) dust optical depth (DOD) data, and HYSPLIT back-trajectories, we track these events across multiple Mediterranean sites. Results reveal clear regional differences in dust optical properties, such as aerosol optical depth, single scattering albedo, and asymmetry factor, arising from source regions and transport processes. Saharan events are dominated by coarse, scattering mineral dust, while the Middle East event featured finer, more absorbing particles, likely influenced by anthropogenic sources. MIDAS DOD-to-AOD ratios indicate that only one East-Central Saharan event maintained high dust fractions (DOD-to-AOD > 0.8), suggesting relatively pure dust, while other events exhibited stronger spatial variability, with the Middle East event showing the lowest ratios, reflecting enhanced mixing with anthropogenic or marine aerosols. A regional case study in Cyprus using in situ elemental and absorptionmeasurements shows that Middle East dust, despite lower mass concentrations, exhibits stronger absorption than Saharan dust.METAL-WRF mineralogical simulations indicate broadly similar dominant mineral fractions (silicates and calcium-rich minerals) across events, suggesting that optical variability was mainly driven by dust-to-total aerosol ratio and mixing state rather than mineralogy. UAV-based composition data further validate modeled variability, although discrepancies in aluminum and magnesium highlight limitations in current dust representations.

In this study, we present comprehensive climatologies of effective ultraviolet (UV) quantities and photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) over Cyprus for the period 2004 to 2023, leveraging the synergy of earth observation (EO) data and radiative transfer model simulations. The EO dataset, encompassing satellite and re-analysis data for aerosols, total ozone column, and water vapor, alongside cloud modification factors, to capture the nuanced dynamics of Cyprus's atmospheric conditions. With a temporal resolution of 15 minutes and a spatial of 0.05°x0.05°, these climatologies undergo rigorous validation against established satellite datasets and are further evaluated through comparisons with ground-based global horizontal irradiance measurements provided by the Meteorological Office of Cyprus. This dual-method validation approach not only underscores the models' accuracy but also highlights their proficiency in capturing intra-daily cloud coverage variations. Our analysis extends to investigating the long-term trends of these solar radiation quantities, examining their interplay with changes in cloud attenuation, aerosol optical depth (AOD), and total ozone column (TOC). Significant decreasing trends in the noon ultraviolet index (UVI), of -2 to -4% per decade have been found in Autumn, especially marked on the island’s Northeastern part, mainly originating from the (significant) positive trends in TOC. The significant decreasing trends in TOC, of -2 to -3% per decade that were found in Spring do not result in correspondingly significant positive trends in the noon UVI since variations in cloudiness and aerosols also have a strong impact on the UVI in this season. The seasonal trends in the Daylight Integral (DLI) were generally not significant. These insights provide a valuable foundation for further studies aimed at developing public health strategies and enhancing agricultural productivity, highlighting the critical importance of accurate and high-resolution climatological data.