Solar Radiation, Modelling and Remote Sensing

Abstract

Surface-solar radiation is of vital importance for life on Earth, radiation–energy balance, photosynthesis and photochemical reactions, meteorological and climatic conditions, and the water cycle. Solar radiation is the most abundant renewable energy resource, and therefore, the demands for environmentally-clean energy solutions and the reduction of greenhouse-gas emissions have shifted the global interest towards solar-energy exploitation for sustainable development and electricity demands. Solar radiation measurements are necessary in the assessment of potential solar energy resources, while their scarce spatial coverage renders solar radiation modelling and remote sensing necessary for atmospheric and energy applications. This special issue aims to review techniques for solar radiation measurements and modelling (solar-radiation networks, historical developments, technique comparisons, standard comparisons between models) and remote sensing using satellite and advanced statistical techniques like artificial neural networks for solar radiation and energy mapping from regional to global scales. Satellite remote sensing of solar radiation provides a better spatial coverage, and various methods have been developed on this issue, with the main disadvantages being the increased uncertainties and the required validations against ground-based measurements or modelling data. An accurate knowledge of the global solar radiation and its direct and diffuse components at the ground is very important for the design of solar power systems as well as for climatological and agricultural issues.