Solar irradiance estimation from geostationary satellite data: I. Statistical models☆

Abstract The use of satellite data to estimate solar irradiance at ground level represents a valid alternative to ground measurements of solar radiation. The best known methods of estimating the solar irradiance at the earth's surface using geostationary satellite data are reviewed. The models may be classified into statistical and physical models, depending on the approach used to treat the interaction between solar radiation and atmosphere. The main hypotheses and algorithms used in four statistical models are extensively presented and discussed. The differences between these methods are pointed out. Physical models will be examined in a second paper[1]. This second paper will include various assessments regarding the performances of the described methods and summaries of comparisons between the different models.

[1]  J. D. Tarpley.  Estimating Incident Solar Radiation at the Surface from Geostationary Satellite Data , 1979 .

[2]  Clifford Raphael,et al.  Models for estimating solar irradiance at the earth’s surface from satellite data : an initial assessment , 1982 .

[3]  J. S. Ellis,et al.  Solar Energy Microclimate As Determined From Satellite Observations , 1976, Optics & Photonics.

[4]  C. F. Ratto,et al.  An assessment of a statistical method to estimate solar irradiance at the earth's surface from geostationary satellite data , 1991 .

[5]  C. Gautier,et al.  A Simple Physical Model to Estimate Incident Solar Radiation at the Surface from GOES Satellite Data , 1980 .

[6]  M. Nunez,et al.  Estimating global solar radiation , 1975 .

[7]  A. Zelenka.  SATELLITE VERSUS GROUND OBSERVATION BASED MODEL FOR GLOBAL IRRADIATION , 1986 .

[8]  J. E. McDonald,et al.  DIRECT ABSORPTION OF SOLAR RADIATION BY ATMOSPHERIC WATER VAPOR , 1960 .

[9]  C G Justus,et al.  Satellite-measured insolation in the United States, Mexico and South America , 1986 .

[10]  Lucien Wald,et al.  A method for the mapping of the apparent ground brightness using visible images from geostationary satellites , 1989 .

[11]  Lucien Wald,et al.  Estimating Incident Solar Radiation at the Surface from Images of the Earth Transmitted by Geostationary Satellites: the Heliosat Project , 1987 .

[12]  C. F. Ratto,et al.  A procedure to obtain global radiation maps from sunshine durations at isolated stations in a region with complex orography , 1986 .

[13]  H. Guillard,et al.  A method for the determination of the global solar radiation from meteorological satellite data , 1986 .

[14]  G. Dalu,et al.  Incident short-wave radiation at the surface from meteosat data , 1987 .

[15]  John E. Hay,et al.  An Assessment of Models which use Satellite Data to Estimate Solar Irradiance at the Earth's Surface , 1984 .

[16]  L. Wald,et al.  Description of an operational tool for determining global solar radiation at ground using geostationary satellite images , 1989 .

[17]  C. F. Ratto,et al.  Solar irradiance estimation from geostationary satellite data: II. Physical models☆ , 1993 .

[18]  Vincent V. Salomonson,et al.  A Simulation Study Exploring the Effects of Sensor Spatial Resolution on Estimates of Cloud Cover from Satellites , 1972 .

[19]  I. Gringorten.  Mapping the Climate. , 1981 .