Global solar radiation estimation using sunshine duration in Spain

Abstract Several equations were employed to estimate global solar radiation from sunshine hours for 16 meteorological stations in Spain, using only the relative duration of sunshine. These equations included the original Angstrom–Prescott linear regression and modified functions (quadratic, third degree, logarithmic and exponential functions). Estimated values were compared with measured values in terms of the coefficient of determination, standard error of the estimate and mean absolute error. All the models fitted the data adequately and can be used to estimate global solar radiation from sunshine hours. This study finds that the third degree models performed better than the other models, but the linear model is preferred due to its greater simplicity and wider application. It is also found that seasonal partitioning does not significantly improve the estimation of global radiation.

[1]  H. Hayhoe,et al.  Improving the estimation of global solar radiation across Canada , 1990 .

[2]  C. Ertekin,et al.  Comparison of some existing models for estimating global solar radiation for Antalya (Turkey) , 2000 .

[3]  B. Akinoglu,et al.  Construction of a quadratic model using modified Ångstrom coefficients to estimate global solar radiation , 1990 .

[4]  N. Elagib,et al.  New empirical models for global solar radiation over Bahrain , 1998 .

[5]  M. Tadros,et al.  Uses of sunshine duration to estimate the global solar radiation over eight meteorological stations in Egypt , 2000 .

[6]  D. W. Stewart,et al.  Estimating global solar radiation from common meteorological observations in western Canada , 1993 .

[7]  A. Angstroem.  Solar and terrestrial radiation , 1924 .

[8]  M. Hussain,et al.  Techniques to obtain improved predictions of global radiation from sunshine duration , 1999 .

[9]  David B. Ampratwum,et al.  Estimation of solar radiation from the number of sunshine hours , 1999 .

[10]  E. Linacre,et al.  Climate Data and Resources: A Reference and Guide , 2003 .

[11]  M. Chegaar,et al.  Global solar radiation estimation in Algeria , 2001 .

[12]  P. Poggi,et al.  Correlations for direct normal and global horizontal irradiation on a French Mediterranean site , 1991 .

[13]  L. S. Pereira,et al.  Crop evapotranspiration : guidelines for computing crop water requirements , 1998 .

[14]  J. N. Black,et al.  The distribution of solar radiation over the Earth's surface , 1956 .

[15]  Z. Samani,et al.  Estimating Potential Evapotranspiration , 1982 .

[16]  I. T. Toğrul,et al.  Estimation of monthly global solar radiation from sunshine duration measurement in Elaziğ , 2000 .

[17]  Joseph A. Jervase,et al.  Monthly average daily solar radiation and clearness index contour maps over Oman , 2003 .