Strengths and limitations of the Liu and Jordan model to determine diffuse from global irradiance

Abstract The original Liu and Jordan relation to derive daily totals of diffuse from global irradiance does not apply in climatic regions largely different from the area for which it was developed. Elevation, and particularly snow cover (changes in the albedo of large portions of the terrain), shift the average curve. With corrections made according to these two parameters, the new curves allow determination of diffuse from global irradiance with much greater confidence.