Global Journal of Technology and Optimization

A Model for Upper Bound Clear Sky Availability of Solar Illuminance

Abstract

A. Nurick

The annual global clear sky illuminance available at points on the earth between the Arctic and Antarctic circles, at various altitudes is presented as an upper bound to available global illuminance. The analysis is based on measurements of illuminance obtained using a spectroradiometer. A simplified expression which may be used to predict the illuminance within 2% of the integrated results is presented. It is suggested that the effects of cloud cover may be included by using data readily available from NASA.