Global radiation on horizontal surfaces

Five doubled sided horizontal surface radiation maps are presented in this third European Solar Radiation Atlas together with the maps showing the site locations. These have been reprinted from the Second Atlas without revision. They give an overall view of the distribution of mean daily global solar irradiation (expressed as energy per unit area per day) in the region of the European Community and the adjacent countries. The maps are not intended to present exact insolation patterns of any particular area, although mesoscale features and local peculiarities were taken into account as far as possible in drawing the contours. Nevertheless microclimates are not evaluated in this Atlas, hence local features impacting on global radiation should be evaluated, when using the Atlas, especially in mountainous areas and on the sea coast. In such situations, data taken directly from the maps should be handled with caution.