scholarly journals Evaluation of Global Solar Irradiance Estimates from GL1.2 Satellite-Based Model over Brazil Using an Extended Radiometric Network

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (8) ◽  
pp. 1331 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anthony C. S. Porfirio ◽  
Juan C. Ceballos ◽  
José M. S. Britto ◽  
Simone M. S. Costa

The GL (GLobal radiation) physical model was developed to compute global solar irradiance at ground level from (VIS) visible channel imagery of geostationary satellites. Currently, its version 1.2 (GL1.2) runs at Brazilian Center for Weather Forecast and Climate Studies/National Institute for Space Research (CPTEC/INPE) based on GOES-East VIS imagery. This study presents an extensive validation of GL1.2 global solar irradiance estimates using ground-based measurements from 409 stations belonging to the Brazilian National Institute of Meteorology (INMET) over Brazil for the year 2016. The INMET reasonably dense network allows characterizing the spatial distribution of GL1.2 data uncertainties. It is found that the GL1.2 estimates have a tendency to overestimate the ground data, but the magnitude varies according to region. On a daily basis, the best performances are observed for the Northeast, Southeast, and South regions, with a mean bias error (MBE) between 2.5 and 4.9 W m−2 (1.2% and 2.1%) and a root mean square error (RMSE) between 21.1 and 26.7 W m−2 (10.8% and 11.8%). However, larger differences occur in the North and Midwest regions, with MBE between 12.7 and 23.5 W m−2 (5.9% and 11.7%) and RMSE between 27 and 33.4 W m−2 (12.7% and 16.7%). These errors are most likely due to the simplified assumptions adopted by the GL1.2 algorithm for clear sky reflectance (Rmin) and aerosols as well as the uncertainty of the water vapor data. Further improvements in determining these parameters are needed. Additionally, the results also indicate that the GL1.2 operational product can help to improve the quality control of radiometric data from a large network, such as INMET's. Overall, the GL1.2 data are suitable for use in various regional applications.

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
pp. 920 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sabrina Gentile ◽  
Francesco Di Paola ◽  
Domenico Cimini ◽  
Donatello Gallucci ◽  
Edoardo Geraldi ◽  
...  

Solar power generation is highly fluctuating due to its dependence on atmospheric conditions. The integration of this variable resource into the energy supply system requires reliable predictions of the expected power production as a basis for management and operation strategies. This is one of the goals of the Solar Cloud project, funded by the Italian Ministry of Economic Development (MISE)—to provide detailed forecasts of solar irradiance variables to operators and organizations operating in the solar energy industry. The Institute of Methodologies for Environmental Analysis of the National Research Council (IMAA-CNR), participating to the project, implemented an operational chain that provides forecasts of all the solar irradiance variables at high temporal and horizontal resolution using the numerical weather prediction Advanced Research Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF-ARW) Solar version 3.8.1 released by the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) in August 2016. With the aim of improving the forecast of solar irradiance, the three-dimensional (3D-Var) data assimilation was tested to assimilate radiances from the Spinning Enhanced Visible and Infrared Imager (SEVIRI) aboard the Meteosat Second Generation (MSG) geostationary satellite into WRF Solar. To quantify the impact, the model output is compared against observational data. Hourly Global Horizontal Irradiance (GHI) is compared with ground-based observations from Regional Agency for the Protection of the Environment (ARPA) and with MSG Shortwave Solar Irradiance estimations, while WRF Solar cloud coverage is compared with Cloud Mask by MSG. A preliminary test has been performed in clear sky conditions to assess the capability of the model to reproduce the diurnal cycle of the solar irradiance. The statistical scores for clear sky conditions show a positive performance of the model with values comparable to the instrument uncertainty and a correlation of 0.995. For cloudy sky, the solar irradiance and the cloud cover are better simulated when the SEVIRI radiances are assimilated, especially in the short range of the simulation. For the cloud cover, the Mean Bias Error one hour after the assimilation time is reduced from 41.62 to 20.29 W/m2 when the assimilation is activated. Although only two case studies are considered here, the results indicate that the assimilation of SEVIRI radiance improves the performance of WRF Solar especially in the first 3 hour forecast.


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (11) ◽  
pp. 2121
Author(s):  
Changsuk Lee ◽  
Kyunghwa Lee ◽  
Sangmin Kim ◽  
Jinhyeok Yu ◽  
Seungtaek Jeong ◽  
...  

This study proposes an improved approach for monitoring the spatial concentrations of hourly particulate matter less than 2.5 μm in diameter (PM2.5) via a deep neural network (DNN) using geostationary ocean color imager (GOCI) images and unified model (UM) reanalysis data over the Korean Peninsula. The DNN performance was optimized to determine the appropriate training model structures, incorporating hyperparameter tuning, regularization, early stopping, and input and output variable normalization to prevent training dataset overfitting. Near-surface atmospheric information from the UM was also used as an input variable to spatially generalize the DNN model. The retrieved PM2.5 from the DNN was compared with estimates from random forest, multiple linear regression, and the Community Multiscale Air Quality model. The DNN demonstrated the highest accuracy compared to that of the conventional methods for the hold-out validation (root mean square error (RMSE) = 7.042 μg/m3, mean bias error (MBE) = −0.340 μg/m3, and coefficient of determination (R2) = 0.698) and the cross-validation (RMSE = 9.166 μg/m3, MBE = 0.293 μg/m3, and R2 = 0.49). Although the R2 was low due to underestimated high PM2.5 concentration patterns, the RMSE and MBE demonstrated reliable accuracy values (<10 μg/m3 and 1 μg/m3, respectively) for the hold-out validation and cross-validation.


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (14) ◽  
pp. 2805
Author(s):  
Hongwei Sun ◽  
Junyu He ◽  
Yihui Chen ◽  
Boyu Zhao

Sea surface partial pressure of CO2 (pCO2) is a critical parameter in the quantification of air–sea CO2 flux, which plays an important role in calculating the global carbon budget and ocean acidification. In this study, we used chlorophyll-a concentration (Chla), sea surface temperature (SST), dissolved and particulate detrital matter absorption coefficient (Adg), the diffuse attenuation coefficient of downwelling irradiance at 490 nm (Kd) and mixed layer depth (MLD) as input data for retrieving the sea surface pCO2 in the North Atlantic based on a remote sensing empirical approach with the Categorical Boosting (CatBoost) algorithm. The results showed that the root mean square error (RMSE) is 8.25 μatm, the mean bias error (MAE) is 4.92 μatm and the coefficient of determination (R2) can reach 0.946 in the validation set. Subsequently, the proposed algorithm was applied to the sea surface pCO2 in the North Atlantic Ocean during 2003–2020. It can be found that the North Atlantic sea surface pCO2 has a clear trend with latitude variations and have strong seasonal changes. Furthermore, through variance analysis and EOF (empirical orthogonal function) analysis, the sea surface pCO2 in this area is mainly affected by sea temperature and salinity, while it can also be influenced by biological activities in some sub-regions.


2015 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 183-194 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Sanchez-Romero ◽  
J. A. González ◽  
J. Calbó ◽  
A. Sanchez-Lorenzo

Abstract. The Campbell–Stokes sunshine recorder (CSSR) has been one of the most commonly used instruments for measuring sunshine duration (SD) through the burn length of a given CSSR card. Many authors have used SD to obtain information about cloudiness and solar radiation (by using Ångström–Prescott type formulas), but the burn width has not been used systematically. In principle, the burn width increases for increasing direct beam irradiance. The aim of this research is to show the relationship between burn width and direct solar irradiance (DSI) and to prove whether this relationship depends on the type of CSSR and burning card. A method of analysis based on image processing of digital scanned images of burned cards is used. With this method, the temporal evolution of the burn width with 1 min resolution can be obtained. From this, SD is easily calculated and compared with the traditional (i.e., visual) determination. The method tends to slightly overestimate SD, but the thresholds that are used in the image processing could be adjusted to obtain an improved estimation. Regarding the burn width, experimental results show that there is a high correlation between two different models of CSSRs, as well as a strong relationship between burn widths and DSI at a high-temporal resolution. Thus, for example, hourly DSI may be estimated from the burn width with higher accuracy than based on burn length (for one of the CSSR, relative root mean squared error is 24 and 30%, respectively; mean bias error is −0.6 and −30.0 W m−2, respectively). The method offers a practical way to exploit long-term sets of CSSR cards to create long time series of DSI. Since DSI is affected by atmospheric aerosol content, CSSR records may also become a proxy measurement for turbidity and atmospheric aerosol loading.


2014 ◽  
Vol 7 (9) ◽  
pp. 9537-9571
Author(s):  
A. Sanchez-Romero ◽  
J. A. González ◽  
J. Calbó ◽  
A. Sanchez-Lorenzo

Abstract. The Campbell–Stokes sunshine recorder (CSSR) has been one of the most commonly used instruments for measuring sunshine duration (SD) through the burn length of a given CSSR card. Many authors have used SD to obtain information about cloudiness and solar radiation (by using Ångström–Prescott type formulas). Contrarily, the burn width has not been used systematically. In principle, the burn width increases for increasing direct beam irradiance. The aim of this research is to show the relationship between burn width and direct solar irradiance (DSI), and to prove whether this relationship depends on the type of CSSR and burning card. A semi-automatic method based on image processing of digital scanned images of burnt cards is presented. With this method, the temporal evolution of the burn width with 1 min resolution can be obtained. From this, SD is easily calculated and compared with the traditional (i.e. visual) determination. The method tends to slightly overestimate SD but the thresholds that are used in the image processing could be adjusted to obtain an unbiased estimation. Regarding the burn width, results show that there is a high correlation between two different models of CSSRs, as well as a strong relationship between burn widths and DSI at a high-temporal resolution. Thus, for example, hourly DSI may be estimated from the burn width with higher accuracy than based on burn length (for one of the CSSR, relative root mean squared error 24 and 30% respectively; mean bias error −0.6 and −30.0 W m−2 respectively). The method offers a practical way to exploit long-term sets of CSSR cards to create long time series of DSI. Since DSI is affected by atmospheric aerosol content, CSSR records may also become a proxy measurement for turbidity and atmospheric aerosol loading.


1987 ◽  
Vol 109 (1) ◽  
pp. 9-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. C. Hooper ◽  
A. P. Brunger ◽  
C. S. Chan

A model, previously proposed, describing the sky radiance as a continuous function, has been calibrated from 11,000 individual measurements made in scans taken across springtime skies in Toronto using a narrow field of view radiometer. The model reproduces the measured sky radiance with a mean bias error under five percent and a root mean square error only slightly larger than the standard deviation of the measurements. The model is applied to the calculation of the ratio of the clear sky diffuse irradiance on a slope to that on a horizontal surface. Charts are presented for the direct determination of the expected values of these ratios for surfaces at three tilts and at any azimuth.


2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (17) ◽  
pp. 1984 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yang ◽  
Gao ◽  
Li ◽  
Jia ◽  
Jiang

The accurate prediction of surface solar irradiance is of great significance for the generation of photovoltaic power. Surface solar irradiance is affected by many random mutation factors, which means that there are great challenges faced in short-term prediction. In Northwest China, there are abundant solar energy resources and large desert areas, which have broad prospects for the development of photovoltaic (PV) systems. For the desert areas in Northwest China, where meteorological stations are scarce, satellite remote sensing data are extremely precious exploration data. In this paper, we present a model using FY-4A satellite images to forecast (up to 15–180 min ahead) global horizontal solar irradiance (GHI), at a 15 min temporal resolution in desert areas under different sky conditions, and compare it with the persistence model (SP). The spatial resolution of the FY-4A satellite images we used was 1 km × 1 km. Particle image velocimetry (PIV) was used to derive the cloud motion vector (CMV) field from the satellite cloud images. The accuracy of the forecast model was evaluated by the ground observed GHI data. The results showed that the normalized root mean square error (nRMSE) ranged from 18.9% to 21.6% and the normalized mean bias error (nMBE) ranged from 3.2% to 4.9% for time horizons from 15 to 180 min under all sky conditions. Compared with the SP model, the nRMSE value was reduced by about 6%, 8%, and 14% with the time horizons of 60, 120, and 180 min, respectively.


2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hairuniza Ahmed Kutty ◽  
Muhammad Hazim Masral ◽  
Parvathy Rajendran

A novel regression model is developed to estimate the monthly global solar irradiance in Malaysia. The model is developed based on different available meteorological parameters, including temperature, cloud cover, rain precipitate, relative humidity, wind speed, pressure, and gust speed, by implementing regression analysis. This paper reports on the details of the analysis of the effect of each prediction parameter to identify the parameters that are relevant to estimating global solar irradiance. In addition, the proposed model is compared in terms of the root mean square error (RMSE), mean bias error (MBE), and the coefficient of determination (R2) with other models available from literature studies. Seven models based on single parameters (PM1 to PM7) and five multiple-parameter models (PM7 to PM12) are proposed. The new models perform well, with RMSE ranging from 0.429% to 1.774%,R2ranging from 0.942 to 0.992, and MBE ranging from −0.1571% to 0.6025%. In general, cloud cover significantly affects the estimation of global solar irradiance. However, cloud cover in Malaysia lacks sufficient influence when included into multiple-parameter models although it performs fairly well in single-parameter prediction models.


Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (9) ◽  
pp. 2583
Author(s):  
Brighton Mabasa ◽  
Meena D. Lysko ◽  
Henerica Tazvinga ◽  
Nosipho Zwane ◽  
Sabata J. Moloi

This study assesses the performance of six global horizontal irradiance (GHI) clear sky models, namely: Bird, Simple Solis, McClear, Ineichen–Perez, Haurwitz and Berger–Duffie. The assessment is performed by comparing 1-min model outputs to corresponding clear sky reference 1-min Baseline Surface Radiation Network quality controlled GHI data from 13 South African Weather Services radiometric stations. The data used in the study range from 2013 to 2019. The 13 reference stations are across the six macro climatological regions of South Africa. The aim of the study is to identify the overall best performing clear sky model for estimating minute GHI in South Africa. Clear sky days are detected using ERA5 reanalysis hourly data and the application of an additional 1-min automated detection algorithm. Metadata for the models’ inputs were sourced from station measurements, satellite platform observations, reanalysis and some were modelled. Statistical metrics relative Mean Bias Error (rMBE), relative Root Mean Square Error (rRMSE) and the coefficient of determination (R2) are used to categorize model performance. The results show that each of the models performed differently across the 13 stations and in different climatic regions. The Bird model was overall the best in all regions, with an rMBE of 1.87%, rRMSE of 4.11% and R2 of 0.998. The Bird model can therefore be used with quantitative confidence as a basis for solar energy applications when all the required model inputs are available.


2008 ◽  
Vol 26 (5) ◽  
pp. 281-292 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kadir Bakirci

Many solar energy systems require monthly average meteorological data as a basis for design. In the study, it was investigated whether existing solar radiation models are suitable to determine the values of solar radiation, and new empirical equations were developed which correlate the monthly average daily global radiation using sunshine hour data. The correlation models were compared by using statistical error tests such as mean bias error (MBE) and root mean square error (RMSE). The new correlation models demonstrate close agreement with the observed data. An application of this study was performed using the experimental data measured for Erzurum, Turkey.


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