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A Comparison of Satellite Based, Modeled Derived Daily Solar Radiation Data with Observed Data for the Continental USMany applications of simulation models and related decision support tools for agriculture and natural resource management require daily meteorological data as inputs. Availability and quality of such data, however, often constrain research and decision support activities that require use of these tools. Daily solar radiation (SRAD) data are especially problematic because the instruments require electronic integrators, accurate sensors are expensive, and calibration standards are seldom available. The Prediction Of Worldwide Energy Resources (NASA/POWER; power.larc.nasa.gov) project at the NASA Langley Research Center estimates daily solar radiation based on data that are derived from satellite observations of outgoing visible radiances and atmospheric parameters based upon satellite observations and assimilation models. The solar data are available for a global 1 degree x 1 degree coordinate grid. SRAD can also be estimated based on attenuation of extraterrestrial radiation (Q0) using daily temperature and rainfall data to estimate the optical thickness of the atmosphere. This study compares daily solar radiation data from NASA/POWER (SRADNP) with instrument readings from 295 stations (SRADOB), as well as with values that were estimated with the WGENR solar generator. WGENR was used both with daily temperature and precipitation records from the stations reporting solar data and records from the NOAA Cooperative Observer Program (COOP), thus providing two additional sources of solar data, SRADWG and SRADCO. Values of SRADNP for different grid cells consistently showed higher correlations (typically 0.85 to 0.95) with SRADOB data than did SRADWG or SRADCO for sites within the corresponding cells. Mean values of SRADOB, SRADWG and SRADNP for sites within a grid cell usually were within 1 MJm-2d-1 of each other, but NASA/POWER values averaged 1.1 MJm-2d-1 lower than SRADOB. The magnitude of this bias was greater at lower latitudes and during summer months and may be at least partially explained by assumptions in ambient aerosol properties. Overall, the NASA/POWER solar radiation data are a promising resource for regional modeling studies where realistic accounting of historic variation is required.
Document ID
20110014258
Acquisition Source
Langley Research Center
Document Type
Preprint (Draft being sent to journal)
Authors
White, Jeffrey W.
(Department of Agriculture Maricopa, AZ, United States)
Hoogenboom, Gerrit
(Georgia Univ. Griffin, GA, United States)
Wilkens, Paul W.
(International Fertilizer Development Center Muscle Shoals, AL, United States)
Stackhouse, Paul W., Jr.
(NASA Langley Research Center Hampton, VA, United States)
Hoell, James M.
(Science Systems and Applications, Inc. Hampton, VA, United States)
Date Acquired
August 25, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 2010
Subject Category
Space Radiation
Report/Patent Number
NF1676L-11444
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NN07AA00C
WBS: WBS 389018.02.15.04.80
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Public Use Permitted.
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