Modelling global solar radiation to optimise agricultural production

Agustín Domínguez-Álvarez,María-Teresa De-Tena-Rey,Lorenzo García-Moruno

doi:10.5424/sjar/2021191-16813

Agustín Domínguez-Álvarez, María-Teresa De-Tena-Rey + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.5424/sjar/2021191-16813

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Abstract

Aim of study: To present a complete global radiation model that includes direct, diffuse sky and ground-reflected radiation, and compare the values with those obtained by the pyranometers.Area of study: The data were analyzed at the meteorological station network in Extremadura, Spain, to validate the results calculated by the model.Material and methods: The method uses the maps from meteorological station data are based on a single piece of daily solar radiation data for an area of 8,000 to 9,000 ha, whereas the maps created by the models are obtained using the spatial resolution of the digital elevation model, in this case 25 × 25m.Main results: The analytical model used in the study obtained global radiation values with a difference of 1.44% relative to the values captured by the meteorological stations in Extremadura. Analysis of the data indicates that on days with a specific type of fog or very diffuse cloud, the global radiation captured by sensors is greater than it would be on clear-sky days in the same area. The method was suitable for calculating global solar radiation on any type of terrain with its corresponding diversity of crop types.Research highlights: The research highlights the importance of understanding and modelling solar radiation for efficient use of water resources in agriculture. Adding these global radiation models to a GIS would provide a very valuable tool for developing regions.

Highlights

Efficient and proper use of water resources in agriculture is one of the main challenges in recent times
Main results: The analytical model used in the study obtained global radiation values with a difference of 1.44% relative to the values captured by the meteorological stations in Extremadura
All the radiation models calculated by the algorithms and viewed by the programme are numerical ASCII files, with the solar radiation values for each pixel of the terrain given in MJ/m2

Summary

Introduction

Efficient and proper use of water resources in agriculture is one of the main challenges in recent times. The high spatial and temporal variability of Earth’s solar radiation is the result of the radiative transfer that occurs in the atmosphere. The importance of this variability in climate studies has led to considerable efforts to improve the capabilities of modelling to determine the components of solar radiation (Polo et al, 2019). The energy that the sun supplies to Earth in the form of electromagnetic radiation is used in photosynthetic processes, surface and atmospheric heating, evaporation and transpiration. In turn, is determined by the effect of solar energy on atmospheric heating and evaporation, indicating the importance of sky conditions on crop yields (Changnon & Changnon, 2005; Pandey & Kariyar, 2013). The intensity of the radiation, the degree of interception, and efficient use of radiant energy are determining factors in plant growth rates (Sandaña et al, 2012)

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