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Evaluating models for estimation of incoming solar radiation in Cruz das Almas, Bahia, Brazil

Solar radiation at the earth's surface (Rs) is one of the essential weather variables for several agro-environmental studies. In the absence of measured Rs, it's possible to simulate them by models. Using three years of daily Rs data (2004-2006) collected by an INMET (Brazilian Meteorological Service) automatic weather station installed in the municipality of Cruz das Almas, BA, three air temperature-based Rs simulation models were evaluated. As a preliminary step, data quality was investigated and, when needed, adjustments were made based on clear sky solar radiation envelopes. The following models were evaluated: Hargreaves-Samani for both interior and coastal regions, Thornton-Running, and the Weiss model. Linear regression R², mean ratio (MR), mean absolute error (MAE), root mean square error (RMSE), and the index of agreement of Willmott (dW) were used for model performance evaluation against measured Rs. The results recommended the coastal-region Hargreaves-Samani for prediction of Rs in the Reconcavo of Bahia, Brazil, since it presented the MR value closest to 1.00 (1.01), the lowest MAE (2.54 MJ m-2 d-1), the lowest RMSE (3.13 MJ m-2 d-1), and the highest dW (0.90).

global solar radiation; pyranometer; simulation model


Departamento de Engenharia Agrícola - UFCG Unidade Acadêmica de Engenharia Agrícola, UFCG, Av. Aprígio Veloso 882, Bodocongó, Bloco CM, 1º andar, CEP 58429-140, Campina Grande, PB, Brasil, Tel. +55 83 2101 1056 - Campina Grande - PB - Brazil
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