Spatial information on total solar radiation: Application and evaluation of the r.sun model

• Main Authors: For The Wedel Jarlsberg L, Maciej Kryza, Mariusz Szymanowski, Krzysztof Migała, Małgorzata Pietras
• Other Authors: The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Subjects: Key words; Arctic; Spitsbergen; solar radiation; r.sun; Linke Turbidity Factor; GIS GRASS; Wedel Jarlsberg Land; Wedel-Jarlsberg
• Online Access: http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.456.5335; http://polish.polar.pan.pl/ppr31/PPR31-017.pdf

Abstract: The results of the application and evaluation of the r.sun model for calculation of the total solar radiation for the Wedel Jarlsberg Land (SW Spitsbergen) are presented. Linke Turbidity Factor (LTF), which is the obligatory parameter for direct and diffused radiation calculations with the r.sun model, is derived here with the empirical formula and meteoro− logical measurements. Few different approaches for calculation of LTF are presented and tested. The r.sun model results, calculated with these various LTF, are evaluated through comparison with total solar radiation measurements gathered at Polish Polar Station. The r.sun model is found to be in good agreement with the measurements for clear sky condi− tions, with the explained variance (R2) close to 0.9. Overall, the model slightly underesti− mates the measured total radiation. Reasonable results were calculated for the cloudiness condition up to 2 octas, and for these r.sun model can be considered as a reliable and flexible tool providing spatial data on solar radiation for the study area.