Investigation of Sheltering Effect on Global Solar Radiation Data Measured by Weather Stations

¹ Professor, Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
² Graduate Student, Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan

Abstract

In instalment of pyranometers at the weather stations for measuring global solar radiation, it often cannot avoid appearance of obstacles in their surroundings. Investigation of sheltering effect on measurement of global solar radiation is performed through introducing the shelter view factor. Evaluation of the shelter view factor is made by means of a fisheye-lens photograph together with the calculation method developed by Steyn (1980). Taitung weather station (TWS) is chosen for the study. The shelter view factor for the pyranometer installed at TWS is estimated to be 11.8%. Measurements of global solar radiation are conducted at a place where is located nearby TSW but with the condition of zero shelter view factor. Comparison of the data measured at these two sites indicates 4% - 25% deviations of global solar radiation observed in different months of 2017. It suggests a need of the correction to the sheltering effect in the measuring process of global solar radiation at the weather stations except those who are not subject to surrounding obstacles in the sky dome.