A simple yet accurate analytical formula is proposed to compute total and photosynthetically available solar irradiance at the ocean surface under clear skies. The formula takes into account the most important processes occurring within the atmosphere, namely, scattering by molecules and aerosols and absorption by water vapor, ozone, and aerosols. These processes are parameterized as a function...

Solar surface irradiance is an important variable in many different fields, e.g., climate monitoring and solar energy. Remote sensing data are nowadays well established and the only observational data source in many regions of the world. Aerosols significantly affect the clear sky radiation and hence also the all sky radiation. In order to achieve the optimal accuracy for surface radiation, inf...

We develop a standalone, real-time solar forecasting computational platform to predict one minute averaged solar irradiance ramps ten minutes in advance. This platform integrates cloud tracking techniques using a low-cost fisheye network camera and artificial neural network (ANN) algorithms, where the former is used to introduce exogenous inputs and the latter is used to predict solar irradianc...

We compare total solar irradiance (TSI) and ultraviolet (Fuv) irradiance variation reconstructed using Ca K facular areas since 1915, with previous values based on less direct proxies. Our annual means for 1925 – 1945 reach values 30 – 50 % higher than those presently used in IPCC climate studies. A high facula/sunspot area ratio in spot cycles 16 and 17 seems to be responsible. New evidence fr...

A very important factor in the assessment of solar energy resources is the availability of direct irradiance data of high quality. Nevertheless, this quantity is seldom measured and thus must be estimated from measures of global solar irradiance, a quantity that is registered in most radiometric stations. In this work we analyze the results provided by different models in the estimation of hour...

Reliable forecasts of climate change in the immediate future are difficult, especially on regional scales, where natural climate variations may amplify or mitigate anthropogenic warming in ways that numerical models capture poorly. By decomposing recent observed surface temperatures into components associated with ENSO, volcanic and solar activity, and anthropogenic influences, we anticipate gl...

This study investigates how AlGaAs/GaAs thin film solar cells perform under varying global solar spectrum due to the changes of environmental parameters such as the air mass and the atmospheric turbidity. The solar irradiance striking the solar cell is simulated using the spectral irradiance model SMARTS2 (Simple Model of the Atmospheric Radiative Transfer of Sunshine) for clear skies on the si...

Any reduction in global mean near-surface temperature due to a future decline in solar activity is likely to be a small fraction of projected anthropogenic warming. However, variability in ultraviolet solar irradiance is linked to modulation of the Arctic and North Atlantic Oscillations, suggesting the potential for larger regional surface climate effects. Here, we explore possible impacts thro...

Appropriate information on solar resources is very important for a variety of technological areas, such as: agriculture, meteorology, forestry engineering, water resources and in particular in the designing, sizing and monitoring of solar energy systems. Solar radiation is observed by means of networks of meteorological stations. However, the availability of observed solar radiation measurement...

Solar irradiance is one of the most important parameters that need to be estimated and modeled before engaging in any solar energy project. This article describes a non-linear regression model based on genetic programming technique for estimating solar irradiance in a specific region in the United Arab Emirates. The genetic programming is an evolutionary computing technique that enables automat...