Modeling surface solar radiation: model formulation and validation.

Abstract

A model for computing global solar radiation at the surface was formulated for use with satellite observations. A compromise in the approach was necessary, whereby the model accuracy and the inherent limitations of satellite observations were made compatible. A three-layer model atmosphere was used. In Experiment A, the model was run for the months of May-August 1982 to produce estimates of daily cumulative insolation for Toronto, Canada. The mean value of the daily estimate was 19.61 MJ m-2 while the mean measured value was 19.72 MJ m-2. -from Authors