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Abstract: Solar radiation data can be obtained by two main ways: direct measurements using
ground meteorological stations; or model estimates, which use remote sensing data as input.
The direct measurements are more precise at the measurements location, but when used in
interpolation to estimate the values over a bi-dimensional field, its accuracy decreases. On the
other hand, the remote sensing radiation products capture the spatial variability over large
areas minimizing the interpolation errors, but show higher errors at the locations where direct
measurements exist. This studys purpose is to employ data from ground stations in Paran
state to evaluate the output long-term annual average daily global radiation estimated from
remote sensing products, in the same area. The first dataset used in this study is hourly global
radiation measured by pyranometers in 35 ground stations from the SIMEPAR network,
covering 11 years (1998-2008). After undergoing a quality control procedure, this dataset was
used to calculate monthly and annual average daily global radiation, and were then
interpolated using the Ordinary Kriging method to result in an annual average radiation map.
The second dataset utilized in this study is comprised of monthly average global radiation
remote sensing products from the radiative transfer Model GL 1.2 (CPTEC/INPE), spanning
nine years (2000-2008). With this dataset, the long-term annual average was calculated,
resulting in a second annual average radiation map. The comparison between the results
obtained from the ground data and from the GL 1.2 Model was undertaken in two ways:
firstly, on the coordinates of the individual ground stations, the absolute and relative errors
were calculated. Secondly, a bi-dimensional comparison was done, pixel to pixel, resulting in
a relative error map. The comparison yielded positive mean relative errors around 10% for the
map produced from the GL 1.2 Model data. The region where the GL 1.2 estimates showed
the lowest error was on the Campos Gerais area (<5%). On the Center and Northern areas of
the state, the relative errors varied from 5 to 10%. The relative error increased towards the
Northern, Southern and Western boundaries of Paran state. The difference between the
datasets can be explained mostly by the simplifying assumptions adopted by the GL 1.2
Model regarding the aerosol attenuation effect on radiation, and regarding the atmospheric
precipitable water content parameter. Nevertheless, the global radiation spatial patterns over
the study area were similar for the maps produced with both datasets. The adopted
methodology using ground data was useful to evaluate the remote sensing radiation products.
The results obtained allowed not only to assess the accuracy of these products, but also to
assess the errors spatial variability.
Keywords: Solar Global radiation. Solar maps. Ordinary Kriging. GL 1.2 Model.