Study of Atmospheric Turbidity in a Northern Tropical Region Using Models and Measurements of Global Solar Radiation

Radiative transfer in the Earth’s atmosphere under clear-sky conditions strongly depends on turbidity due to aerosols and hydrometeors. It is therefore important know its temporal radiative properties for a given site when objective optimize solar energy that collected there. Turbidity can be studied via measurements models of global radiation reaching ground cloudless conditions. These generally depend two parameters, namely Angström coefficient Linke factor. This article aims do comparative study five radiation, all dependent factor, based real data. The are provided by Tamanrasset Meteorological Center (Algeria), which has long series data recorded between 2005 2011. Additional from AERONET MODIS onboard TERRA satellite were also used perform comparison estimated parameters those obtained AERONET. shows ESRA most reliable among estimating factor with correlation R fits 0.9995, RMSE 13.44 W/m2, MBE −0.64 W/m2 MAPE 6.44%. maximum minimum statistical values reached, respectively, June during autumn months. best observed case parameter joint optical thickness total column-integrated water vapor. β, calculated data, less than 0.02 at 9% cases, 76% present ranging 0.15 13% higher 0.15. β validated since very good (R≈0.87) datasets. variations show June. Satellite observations confirm more summer season, mostly related African monsoon.