Dependence of one-minute global irradiance probability density distributions on hourly irradiation

Abstract

This paper analyzes the behavior of one minute global irradiance distributions as a function of hourly average solar global irradiance. For this purpose, we have used the clearness index k t which describes the atmospheric transmittance. Our interest is in characterizing the intrahourly variability of solar global irradiance and the behavior of the instantaneous values as a function of hourly values of solar global irradiance. The distributions are unimodal and show a marked symmetry around a central value that is close to the corresponding hourly average value. The probability density functions have been modeled using functions based on the Boltzmann statistic used in recent studies of the one minute distributions of k t conditioned to the optical air mass. These functions provide good fit of the distributions and are analytically integrable and can be inverted analytically. The one minute global irradiance data used in this study have been recorded during a three year period in a radiometric station located in south eastern Spain.