Global Solar Irradiance Climatology of an Intermountain Region

摘要

A global solar irradiance climatology of an intermountain region is developed using radiation data from ten measurement stations that form the Utah Solar Network. Statistics of daily insolation are prepared based on data collected from 1981-1984. Monthly and weekly periods of daily radiation are found to display a variably skewed frequency distribution. The median statistic is considered more realistic than the mean for determining the average value of these time periods. Daily averages are presented on monthly maps showing the temporal solar energy distribution in Utah. Nonhomogenous terrain significantly distorts the normal latitudinal distribution pattern of irradiance. Effects on weather by the Great Salt Lake and Wasatch Mountain Range are discussed.