@article{MTMT:36324029,
	title = {The shadow of the wind: the impact of Saharan dust on photovoltaic power generation in the Mediterranean},
	url = {https://m2.mtmt.hu/api/publication/36324029},
	author = {Varga, György and Gresina, Fruzsina and Gelencsér, András and Csávics, Adrienn and Rostási, Ágnes},
	doi = {10.1016/j.renene.2025.124337},
	journal-iso = {RENEW ENERGY},
	journal = {RENEWABLE ENERGY},
	volume = {256},
	unique-id = {36324029},
	issn = {0960-1481},
	abstract = {The increasing frequency and intensity of Saharan Dust Events (SDEs) in Europe poses a significant challenge to the reliability of photovoltaic (PV) energy systems. This study examines SDE effects on solar power in five Mediterranean countries – Portugal, Spain, France, Italy, and Greece – from 2019 to 2023, using dust data, PV statistics, and meteorological analysis. The findings of this study demonstrate that SDEs reduce PV output by an average of 25–40 %, with losses exceeding 50 % during extreme events. In Portugal this decline was 10.1–29.3 %, 16.3–19.8 % in Spain; 4.4–40.5 % in France; 13.9–36.8 % in Italy and 20.1–40.9 % in Greece, during the highest dust levels. Solar irradiance drops are due to both dust-induced attenuation and increased cirrus cloud formation from enhanced ice nucleation. Analysis of recent dust storms shows consistent day-ahead PV forecast errors, with underestimations up to −15 % in Portugal and Spain, and overestimations up to +10 % in Italy and Greece, highlighting the need for improved models that incorporate aerosol-cloud interactions. The results highlight the need for improved forecasting that includes real-time dust monitoring and cloud processes. As SDEs increase with climate change, accounting for dust-related uncertainties is crucial for reliable grid operation and solar power planning in southern Europe.},
	keywords = {SDG 7: affordable and clean energy},
	year = {2026},
	eissn = {1879-0682},
	orcid-numbers = {Varga, György/0000-0003-4784-6372; Gresina, Fruzsina/0000-0003-2187-6864; Gelencsér, András/0000-0003-4563-0295; Rostási, Ágnes/0000-0002-0269-390X}
}

@article{MTMT:36905878,
	title = {Saharan dust and cirrus clouds: Dominating indirect impact of dust events on photovoltaic energy generation in Hungary (2019–2024)},
	url = {https://m2.mtmt.hu/api/publication/36905878},
	author = {Varga, György and Gresina, Fruzsina and Gelencsér, András and Csávics, A and Rostási, Ágnes},
	doi = {10.1016/j.solener.2026.114385},
	journal-iso = {SOL ENERGY},
	journal = {SOLAR ENERGY},
	volume = {307},
	unique-id = {36905878},
	issn = {0038-092X},
	year = {2026},
	eissn = {1471-1257},
	orcid-numbers = {Varga, György/0000-0003-4784-6372; Gresina, Fruzsina/0000-0003-2187-6864; Gelencsér, András/0000-0003-4563-0295; Rostási, Ágnes/0000-0002-0269-390X}
}

@{MTMT:37021335,
	title = {Beyond aerosol extinction: dominant indirect effects of Saharan dust on photovoltaic energy production in Central Europe},
	url = {https://m2.mtmt.hu/api/publication/37021335},
	author = {Varga, György and Fruzsina, Gresina and Gelencsér, András and Adrienn, Csávics and Rostási, Ágnes},
	booktitle = {Egu26 General Assembly},
	doi = {10.5194/egusphere-egu26-17282},
	unique-id = {37021335},
	abstract = {Saharan dust outbreaks are increasingly affecting Europe, yet their impact on photovoltaic (PV) energy production is still predominantly interpreted through the lens of direct aerosol radiative attenuation. This study demonstrates that such an approach substantially underestimates the other influence of dust on solar energy generation, as the dominant mechanism operates indirectly through dust-induced modifications of cirrus clouds.
		
		We analyse six years (2019-2024) of national-scale PV generation data from Hungary, a Central European country where solar power accounted for approximately 25% of total electricity generation by 2024. PV production data are combined with reanalysis- and satellite-based atmospheric datasets, including dust column mass density from MERRA-2, cirrus cloud properties from MODIS, and surface irradiance from the CAMS Radiation Service. PV performance is quantified using a dynamically fitted production envelope, allowing generation losses to be assessed independently of capacity growth and seasonal variability.
		
		Our results reveal that the largest PV yield reductions occur not during high-dust conditions alone, but when elevated dust loads coincide with enhanced cirrus cloud coverage and reflectance. Under such combined conditions, PV performance ratios fall to approximately 46%, compared to values exceeding 75% during low-dust, low-cirrus periods. During high-dust episodes, cirrus reflectance increases by about 55%, while cirrus coverage rises by 60-85%, providing clear observational evidence of strong aerosol-cloud interactions. Seasonal analysis shows that these indirect effects peak during the transitional seasons (spring and autumn), when thermodynamic conditions favour heterogeneous ice nucleation on mineral dust particles.
		
		To disentangle direct and indirect pathways, we apply both linear and non-linear (quadratic) mediation frameworks, supported by block bootstrap resampling to ensure robust statistical inference. The bootstrap analysis consistently demonstrates that the indirect, cirrus-mediated pathway is statistically significant and more stable than the direct dust effect. While direct aerosol extinction can be strong during extreme dust events, its influence is episodic and highly state-dependent. In contrast, dust-induced cirrus enhancement represents a persistent and dominant mechanism governing PV efficiency losses across dust regimes.
		
		These findings indicate that the radiative impact of Saharan dust on solar energy production is fundamentally a coupled dust-cirrus phenomenon rather than a simple aerosol-extinction problem. As the frequency and intensity of transcontinental dust intrusions are projected to increase under future climate conditions, explicitly accounting for aerosol-cloud interactions is essential for reliable PV performance assessment, energy planning, and the stability of increasingly solar-dominated power systems.
		
		The research was supported by the Sustainable Development and Technologies National Programme of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences (FFT NP FTA) and NRDI projects TKP2021-NKTA-21 and RRF-2.3.1-21-2021.},
	year = {2026},
	orcid-numbers = {Varga, György/0000-0003-4784-6372; Gelencsér, András/0000-0003-4563-0295; Rostási, Ágnes/0000-0002-0269-390X}
}

@article{MTMT:35600407,
	title = {Combined effect of a pretreatment and optical settings on the laser diffraction particle size distribution of soils and sediments},
	url = {https://m2.mtmt.hu/api/publication/35600407},
	author = {Gresina, Fruzsina and Szalai, Zoltán and Zacháry, Dóra and Kiss, Klaudia and Madarász, Balázs and Angyal, Zsuzsanna and Jakab, Gergely Imre and Darabos, Gabriella and Varga, György},
	doi = {10.1007/s11368-024-03933-4},
	journal-iso = {J SOIL SEDIMENT},
	journal = {JOURNAL OF SOILS AND SEDIMENTS},
	volume = {25},
	unique-id = {35600407},
	issn = {1439-0108},
	year = {2025},
	eissn = {1614-7480},
	pages = {160-178},
	orcid-numbers = {Gresina, Fruzsina/0000-0003-2187-6864; Szalai, Zoltán/0000-0001-5267-411X; Zacháry, Dóra/0000-0001-8248-5571; Madarász, Balázs/0000-0003-4201-6919; Angyal, Zsuzsanna/0000-0002-2733-0101; Jakab, Gergely Imre/0000-0001-5424-1983; Darabos, Gabriella/0000-0001-8070-5630; Varga, György/0000-0003-4784-6372}
}

@article{MTMT:35725820,
	title = {Desert dust and photovoltaic energy forecasts: lessons from 46 Saharan dust events in Hungary (Central Europe)},
	url = {https://m2.mtmt.hu/api/publication/35725820},
	author = {Varga, György and Gresina, Fruzsina and Gelencsér, András and Csávics, A and Rostási, Ágnes},
	doi = {10.1016/j.rser.2025.115446},
	journal-iso = {RENEW SUST ENERG REV},
	journal = {RENEWABLE & SUSTAINABLE ENERGY REVIEWS},
	volume = {212},
	unique-id = {35725820},
	issn = {1364-0321},
	year = {2025},
	eissn = {1879-0690},
	orcid-numbers = {Varga, György/0000-0003-4784-6372; Gresina, Fruzsina/0000-0003-2187-6864; Gelencsér, András/0000-0003-4563-0295; Rostási, Ágnes/0000-0002-0269-390X}
}

@CONFERENCE{MTMT:36113905,
	title = {Saharan Dust and Solar Energy: Quantifying Forecasting Challenges in Hungary’s Rapidly Growing PV Sector. poster},
	url = {https://m2.mtmt.hu/api/publication/36113905},
	author = {Rostási, Ágnes and Gresina, Fruzsina and Gelencsér, András and Adrienn, Csávics and Varga, György},
	booktitle = {EGU General Assembly 2025},
	doi = {10.5194/egusphere-egu25-12210},
	unique-id = {36113905},
	year = {2025},
	orcid-numbers = {Rostási, Ágnes/0000-0002-0269-390X; Gresina, Fruzsina/0000-0003-2187-6864; Gelencsér, András/0000-0003-4563-0295; Varga, György/0000-0003-4784-6372}
}

@CONFERENCE{MTMT:36113909,
	title = {The shadow of the wind: photovoltaic power generation under Europe's dusty skies},
	url = {https://m2.mtmt.hu/api/publication/36113909},
	author = {Varga, György and Gresina, Fruzsina and Gelencsér, András and Adrienn, Csávics and Rostási, Ágnes},
	booktitle = {EGU General Assembly 2025},
	doi = {10.5194/egusphere-egu25-9264},
	unique-id = {36113909},
	year = {2025},
	orcid-numbers = {Varga, György/0000-0003-4784-6372; Gresina, Fruzsina/0000-0003-2187-6864; Gelencsér, András/0000-0003-4563-0295; Rostási, Ágnes/0000-0002-0269-390X}
}

@CONFERENCE{MTMT:36113913,
	title = {Comparison of recent sediments from different geomorphological environments using automated static image analysis with insight into its applicability to paleo archives},
	url = {https://m2.mtmt.hu/api/publication/36113913},
	author = {Gresina, Fruzsina and Beáta, Farkas and Magyar, Gergő and Szalai, Zoltán and Varga, György},
	booktitle = {EGU General Assembly 2025},
	doi = {10.5194/egusphere-egu25-12819},
	unique-id = {36113913},
	year = {2025},
	orcid-numbers = {Gresina, Fruzsina/0000-0003-2187-6864; Szalai, Zoltán/0000-0001-5267-411X; Varga, György/0000-0003-4784-6372}
}

@CONFERENCE{MTMT:36234375,
	title = {Wellness Hotels in Trouble: The effect of Saharan dust events on economic sustainability},
	url = {https://m2.mtmt.hu/api/publication/36234375},
	author = {Rostási, Ágnes and Varga, György and Gyurácz-Németh, Petra},
	booktitle = {11th EATSA 2025 Conference Proceedings Wellness and Sustainability Tourism in ‘Paradise’ Bali, Indonesia, 23-27 June 2025},
	unique-id = {36234375},
	abstract = {The increasing frequency of Saharan Dust Events (SDEs) in Central Europe, especially in Hungary,
		poses significant challenges for the tourism sector, especially for spa hotels. This study examines
		the impact of SDEs on air quality, operating costs and possible guest experiences in these
		accommodations. Dust events lead to reduced air quality and visibility, undermining the tranquil
		environment essential for wellness services, which could ultimately affect guest satisfaction. In
		addition, increased levels of particulate matter can exacerbate health concerns for sensitive
		individuals, potentially reducing bookings during peak dust seasons. Operating costs rise sharply
		as wellness hotels face increased maintenance needs; outdoor facilities require frequent cleaning
		to prevent damage, while HVAC systems must work harder to maintain air quality, increasing
		energy consumption. As energy prices have risen sharply in recent years, this can have a
		significant impact on the economic sustainability of hotels. Wellness hotels will have to change
		their philosophy and services to meet the new challenges. Indoor services will become more
		important and special therapies such as cave therapy will play a greater role. In addition, traffic
		disruptions due to reduced visibility during SDEs complicate guest arrivals, leading to logistical
		issues and lower occupancy rates. This research highlights the wider implications of SDEs for the
		economic sustainability of wellness tourism in Hungary. Investment in sustainability and
		infrastructure will be essential to maintain competitiveness in an unpredictable climate.
		Keywords: Saharan dust event, wellness hotel, economic sustainability},
	year = {2025},
	pages = {86},
	orcid-numbers = {Rostási, Ágnes/0000-0002-0269-390X; Varga, György/0000-0003-4784-6372; Gyurácz-Németh, Petra/0000-0003-1047-6347}
}

@misc{MTMT:36283197,
	title = {Szaharai porviharok hatása a fotovoltaikus energiatermelés előrejelzésére},
	url = {https://m2.mtmt.hu/api/publication/36283197},
	author = {Rostási, Ágnes and Gresina, Fruzsina and Gelencsér, András and Csávics, Adrienn and Varga, György},
	unique-id = {36283197},
	year = {2025},
	orcid-numbers = {Rostási, Ágnes/0000-0002-0269-390X; Gelencsér, András/0000-0003-4563-0295; Varga, György/0000-0003-4784-6372}
}