About the Usability of a Photovoltaic Module to Monitor Air Pollution
V. Schlosser*, M. Drapalik*, G. Klinger**
University of Vienna, A-1090 Wien, Austria
Department of Meteorology and Geophysics, University of Vienna
Abstract--The responsivity by means of the quotient of photo-current and incident global light intensity of a solar module situated in central Vienna was analyzed during a period where an ash cloud of volcanic origin was spread over central Europe in spring 2010. A timely coincidence between anomalies of the registered responsivity and the concentration of ash particles in the air was found. However due to the lack of reliable directly observed particle concentration no correlation could be established.
Index Terms--Air pollution, Optical sensors, Photovoltaic cells, Remote monitoring.