Abstract

BURIOL, Galileo Adeli et al. Estimation of global radiation from insolation data for Santa Maria, RS, Brazil. Cienc. Rural [online]. 2012, vol.42, n.9, pp. 1563-1567.  Epub July 19, 2012. ISSN 0103-8478.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0103-84782012005000059.

Coefficients a and b of the Angströn - Prescott equation to estimate global solar radiation for Santa Maria, RS were determined. Daily data of global solar radiation and sunshine, were obtained from the Meteorological Station which belongs to the 8^th District of Meteorology, located on the campus of the Federal University of Santa Maria - UFSM, period from 2002 to 2008. The mentioned data were copied from the database of the 8^th District of Meteorology - 8^th DISME in Porto Alegre. Top of atmosphere radiation and possible maximum sunshine were calculated considering local latitude. With such elements, monthly regression equations were determined for the estimation of solar radiation as a function of insolation. We found a high correlation between insolation and global solar radiation and it's possible to estimate the solar radiation depending on the measured insolation.

Keywords : equation Angströn-Prescott; sunshine; solar radiation ratio; insolation ratio.