Regional variability of solar radiation in cloudy conditions: implications for satellite mapping of solar radiation

Manuel Nunez; Kurt Fienberg

doi:10.1117/12.515206

16 February 2004 Regional variability of solar radiation in cloudy conditions: implications for satellite mapping of solar radiation

Manuel Nunez, Kurt Fienberg

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 5235, Remote Sensing of Clouds and the Atmosphere VIII; (2004) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.515206
Event: Remote Sensing, 2003, Barcelona, Spain

Abstract

There are large errors in satellite estimation of downward surface solar radiation (DSSR) at hourly time scales. This is due to several factors including mismatch in the spatial scale of the satellite vs. point measurements from surface pyranometers; and most importantly, structural variability in cloud properties. The authors examined the temporal and spatial variability of UV-B erythemal irradiance under cloudy stratocumulus conditions in Hobart Australia. Three radiometers were deployed at distances under 5 km. Short-term statistics were analysed and related to estimates from a three-dimensional radiation/cloud model with fractal properties in the horizontal. Results indicate that accuracy in satellite-derived hourly solar radiation may be improved with several satellite scans per hour, ideally every 10 minutes. However ground validation is a problem because an hourly measurement of irradiance in cloudy conditions is not likely to represent well the regional average as estimated from satellite.

Citation Download Citation

Manuel Nunez and Kurt Fienberg "Regional variability of solar radiation in cloudy conditions: implications for satellite mapping of solar radiation", Proc. SPIE 5235, Remote Sensing of Clouds and the Atmosphere VIII, (16 February 2004); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.515206

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