Monthly, Seasonal and Yearly Assessments of Global Solar Radiation, Clearness Index and Diffuse Fractions in Alice, South Africa
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
In general, this work presents the typical procedure and analysis for the assessment solar radiation and clearness index of a region. The methodology applied to achieve the objectives is adequate and discussion of the results are elaborate. It contains very good information about each step to follow to perform any type of assessments, which could be used for researchers and scientists for the potentials of solar generator, hence I recommend the manuscript in this journal.
In order to improve the quality of the paper, a few of my comments are presented:
- Delete reference 32 since it is a repetition of reference 24
- Quality of Fig. 8 can be improved so that the legend could be differentiated when printed in coloured.
Author Response
Responses to reviewer One
Comments and Suggestions for Authors
In general, this work presents the typical procedure and analysis for the assessment solar radiation and clearness index of a region. The methodology applied to achieve the objectives is adequate and discussion of the results are elaborate. It contains very good information about each step to follow to perform any type of assessments, which could be used for researchers and scientists for the potentials of solar generator, hence I recommend the manuscript in this journal.
Response
Thank you for recommending this manuscript to this journal
In order to improve the quality of the paper, a few of my comments are presented:
- Delete reference 32 since it is a repetition of reference 24
Response
Thank you for the comment, reference 32 has been deleted as suggested, see lines 517 to 518
2 Quality of Fig. 8 can be improved so that the legend could be differentiated when printed in coloured.
Response
Thank you for the comments, Fig.8 has been replotted as suggested, see line 327
Reviewer 2 Report
In this manuscript, authors have taken a good attempt to evaluate the monthly, seasonal and yearly global solar radiation, clearness Index and diffuse fractions in Alice, South Africa. Procedure is nice and the the explanations are clear. However, correct the following minor corrections before publish.
1. In scientific writing no need to explain about other sections in the introduction part. Remove them from the introduction.
2. Fonts in Figure 2 are not clear.
3. In Figure 3, define both vertical axises and do the same thing for other figures also
4. Finally give a description about the usefulness and applications of your study not only for the electricity generation consider about the other industries as well (Agriculture, food industry etc).
Author Response
Reviewer two
Comments and Suggestions for Authors
In this manuscript, authors have taken a good attempt to evaluate the monthly, seasonal and yearly global solar radiation, clearness Index and diffuse fractions in Alice, South Africa. Procedure is nice and the explanations are clear. However, correct the following minor corrections before publish.
Response
Thanks for the comments and finding our working interesting
- In scientific writing no need to explain about other sections in the introduction part. Remove them from the introduction.
Response
Thank you for the suggestions, other sections from the introduction have been removed. See lines 84 to 86
- Fonts in Figure 2 are not clear.
Response
Thank you for the comments, fonts in Figure 2 has been made clear as suggested. See line 153
- In Figure 3, define both vertical axises and do the same thing for other figures also
Response
Many thanks, both the vertical axes have been defined in all the Figures as suggested. See Figures 3,4.5,6,7,8,9 and 11
- Finally give a description about the usefulness and applications of your study not only for the electricity generation consider about the other industries as well (Agriculture, food industry etc).
Response
Thank you for your comments, the applications of the study have been highlighted as suggested. See lines 407 to 410
Reviewer 3 Report
Dear Authors,
The title “Monthly, Seasonal and Yearly Assessments of Global Solar Radiation, Clearness Index and Diffuse Fractions in Alice, South Africa” tells the readers where it makes research contributions.
Solar energy is a renewable energy resource in nature, and it plays a major factor together with other alternative energy source to solve the global energy problem. Therefore, the information of solar radiation at a given geographical location is very important, the same for town of Alice in South Africa.
The “Introduction” provides a background material on the subject for readers to understand the problem related to methods developed for characterization sky conditions, the clearness index (Kt) and diffuse fraction (Kd).
This is followed by paragraph 2 “The Study Location and Meteorological Features” . My suggestion is to combine these two chapters in the introduction. I do not find them to have their place in the flow, as separate entities.
The next chapter is “Materials and Methods” divided in 3.1 Data and Instrumentations; and 3.2 Estimation of Extra-terrestrial radiations, Clearness index and Diffuse Fraction on a Horizontal Surface.
The last one paragraph it does not seem to be long to the “Materials and Methods” but to the “Introduction” section what I am suggestion to the authors to proceed with this change in the flow of the paper.
Section 4 is about” Results and discussion” which tells us “the highest value of mean global solar radiation was found in summer season” which was to be expected.
Section “4.1 The Seasonal and Annual Variations of Clearness index and Diffuse fraction” and “4.2 Monthly variations of the diffuse fraction and clearness index” need to be clearer in its discussion. It sounds a bit confusing and it is not clear the motivation that led to the division into these categories of data analysis. My opinion is that the discussion should be smoother and clearer, I am not convinced that they should be separated in the two paragraphs.
Author Response
Reviewer 3
Comments and Suggestions for Authors
Dear Authors,
- The title “Monthly, Seasonal and Yearly Assessments of Global Solar Radiation, Clearness Index and Diffuse Fractions in Alice, South Africa” tells the readers where it makes research contributions.
Solar energy is a renewable energy resource in nature, and it plays a major factor together with other alternative energy source to solve the global energy problem. Therefore, the information of solar radiation at a given geographical location is very important, the same for town of Alice in South Africa.
Response
Thank you for the comments and finding this part interesting
2 The “Introduction” provides a background material on the subject for readers to understand the problem related to methods developed for characterization sky conditions, the clearness index (Kt) and diffuse fraction (Kd).
This is followed by paragraph 2 “The Study Location and Meteorological Features” . My suggestion is to combine these two chapters in the introduction. I do not find them to have their place in the flow, as separate entities.
Response
Thanks for the comments, the paragraph 2 “The Study Location and Meteorological Features” has been combined with the introduction as suggested. See line 87.
3 The next chapter is “Materials and Methods” divided in 3.1 Data and Instrumentations; and 3.2 Estimation of Extra-terrestrial radiations, Clearness index and Diffuse Fraction on a Horizontal Surface.
The last one paragraph it does not seem to be long to the “Materials and Methods” but to the “Introduction” section what I am suggestion to the authors to proceed with this change in the flow of the paper.
Response
Thank you for the comments, “Materials and Methods” have been rearranged into 2.1 as Data and Instrumentations; and 2.2 as “Estimation of Extra-terrestrial radiations” while the last paragraph “Description of clearness index” has been moved to the introduction as suggested. See lines 111 to 134 and 137 to 198
4 Section 4 is about” Results and discussion” which tells us “the highest value of mean global solar radiation was found in summer season” which was to be expected.
Section “4.1 The Seasonal and Annual Variations of Clearness index and Diffuse fraction” and “4.2 Monthly variations of the diffuse fraction and clearness index” need to be clearer in its discussion. It sounds a bit confusing and it is not clear the motivation that led to the division into these categories of data analysis. My opinion is that the discussion should be smoother and clearer, I am not convinced that they should be separated in the two paragraphs.
Response
The average of the monthly clearness index refers the percentage reduction of the incident global solar radiation by the sky, and thus exhibits both the amount of existing solar radiation and variations in the condition of the atmosphere in Alice, hence the motivation in this Section “4.1 The Seasonal and Annual Variations of Clearness index and Diffuse fraction” and “4.2 Monthly variations of the diffuse fraction and clearness index”. The higher the clearness index, the lower the global solar radiation and vice versa. The clearness index equally shows the same pattern with diffuse fraction. Moreover, the two paragraph have been merged as suggested. See lines 223 to 344
Reviewer 4 Report
In this manuscript, the authors characterized solar radiation, clearness index as well as diffuse fraction in Alice, South Africa, based on the measurement hourly changes of diffuse and global solar radiation. This study is instructive in the development of solar energy in this area, and would be inspiring for the utilization of solar energy in other regions. The paper is well written and organized.
Author Response
Response to reviewer 4
Comments and Suggestions for Authors
In this manuscript, the authors characterized solar radiation, clearness index as well as diffuse fraction in Alice, South Africa, based on the measurement hourly changes of diffuse and global solar radiation. This study is instructive in the development of solar energy in this area, and would be inspiring for the utilization of solar energy in other regions. The paper is well written and organized.
Response
Thanks for the comments and finding our working interesting
Reviewer 5 Report
Dear Authors!
The article was written at a very high substantive level. Both the title, abstract and main part fully meet the highest scientific standards. I only suggest that you pay attention to the possibility of better quality drawings and the journal's requirements before the final edition.
I recommend publishing the article in its current form.
Lots of Health.
Best wishes!
Reviewer
Author Response
Reviewer 5
Comments and Suggestions for Authors
Dear Authors!
The article was written at a very high substantive level. Both the title, abstract and main part fully meet the highest scientific standards. I only suggest that you pay attention to the possibility of better quality drawings and the journal's requirements before the final edition.
I recommend publishing the article in its current form.
Lots of Health.
Best wishes!
Reviewer
Response
Thanks for the comments and finding our working interesting
