Abstract

Two methods for estimating daily global solar radiation (RG) based on the daily temperature extremes and precipitation sum are compared in the study. All parameters necessary for application of both methods were derived either from literature or from climatic characteristics easily available at the given meteorological stations excluding need for measured RG data. The performance of both methods was assessed with a help of meteorological database including 4 stations in the Czech Republic (data were provided by the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute) and 6 in Austria (data provided by the Austrian Weather Service) containing in total 41 640 observational day. For each day in the database observed daily sum of RG, daily maximum and minimum temperatures and precipitation sum were available. Coefficient of determination, slope of regression line forced through origin, mean bias error (MBE) and root mean square error (RMSE) were used as performance indicators. The first method proposed by Winslow et al. (2001) – Eq. (1) is capable to explain 86% of daily RG variability, with systematic error represented by MBE equaling to 0.19 MJ.m–2.day-1 and random error indicated by RMSE reaching up to 3.09. The second method published by Thornton and Running (1999)-Eq. (2) was found to be in almost all parameters inferior to the Eq. (1) and thus the Eq. (1) is recommended to be used in the Central European region (up to 600 m above the sea level). This method might be recommended for stations where neither measured RG or sunshine duration hours exist. However, one should take into consideration that relative MBE and RMSE are in some months higher than 10% and 30% respectively, which may compromise results of subsequent calculations made with use of estimated solar radiation data and alter the order of the method suitability.

Full Text
Published version (Free)

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call