Solar Radiation: Measurements and Model Studies—Progress and Perspectives (2nd Edition)

A special issue of Atmosphere (ISSN 2073-4433). This special issue belongs to the section "Meteorology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 29 August 2025 | Viewed by 332

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Department of Mathematics and Sciences, College of Humanities and Science, Ajman University, Ajman P.O. Box 346, United Arab Emirates
Interests: solar radiation; meteorology; atmospheric physics; cosmic rays; seasonal forecast; climatology
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This is the second volume of the Special Issue entitled "Solar Radiation: Measurements and Model Studies—Progress and Perspectives”, which was published in Atmosphere in 2023; the first volume can be found at the following link: (https://www.mdpi.com/journal/atmosphere/special_issues/6955QL3JN0).

It is well known that the need to advance the use of green energy seeks to reduce environmental pollution, achieve economic goals, and undermine the mechanism of climate change. Solar radiation is considered to be one of the cleanest, most accessible, and alternative sources of renewable energy that can meet future energy needs. With recent developments in solar energy projects around the globe, a proper estimation of solar radiation and related parameters is needed.

We invite researchers to contribute original research manuscripts relating to all aspects of solar radiation, measurements, and modelling. Relevant research includes, but is not limited to, the following topics:

  • Radiation studies that present new knowledge of aerosol–cloud–radiation interactions on a regional scale;
  • Characterization of the effects of air pollution processes on radiation;
  • Testing different techniques, measurements, and models for a precise understanding of solar radiation;
  • Solar UV radiation;
  • Optical radiation propagation;
  • Dynamic and microphysics radiation;
  • Electromagnetic radiation—emission, absorption, and scattering rates.

If this topic is of interest to you, please do not hesitate to send your manuscript for review.

Dr. Abd Al Karim Haj Ismail
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Atmosphere is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • solar radiation
  • meteorology
  • cosmic air showers
  • radioactivity
  • air pollution

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

33 pages, 2029 KiB  
Article
A Comparison of Different Solar Radiation Models in the Iberian Peninsula
by Catalina Roca-Fernández, Xavier Pons and Miquel Ninyerola
Atmosphere 2025, 16(5), 590; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos16050590 - 14 May 2025
Viewed by 150
Abstract
Solar radiation is a first-order essential climate variable like temperature and precipitation. Its significant spatiotemporal variability, mainly due to atmospheric conditions, makes modelling particularly challenging, especially in regions with complex atmospheric dynamics and sparse meteorological stations. This study evaluates 6 solar radiation models [...] Read more.
Solar radiation is a first-order essential climate variable like temperature and precipitation. Its significant spatiotemporal variability, mainly due to atmospheric conditions, makes modelling particularly challenging, especially in regions with complex atmospheric dynamics and sparse meteorological stations. This study evaluates 6 solar radiation models (SARAH, PVGIS, Constant Atmospheric Conditions, Physical Solar Model, CAMS Worldwide, and InsolMets) using monthly measurements from 141 ground-based stations across the Iberian Peninsula from 2004–2020. Although all models consistently captured intra-annual variability, discrepancies in absolute values arise due to factors such as the differences in their functional designs and input parameters. InsolMets, which integrates cloud optical thickness, cloud fractional cover, the diffuse radiation component, and enhanced solar illumination geometry, was the most robust model, showing relevant improvements (61.5% in January, 59.7% in November, and 52.0% in December) compared to the worst-performing model (constant atmospheric conditions). Using as a threshold three times the root-mean-square error (RMSE) proposed by the Global Climate Observing System, InsolMets achieved the highest number of months (10) under this limit, also achieving the best overall result, with only 1 month showing non-significant correlations over the same time span. Nevertheless, SARAH and PVGIS matched InsolMets’ performance during March, November, and December. The results provide insights for selecting and improving solar radiation estimations, highlighting the need to incorporate remote sensing atmospheric data to minimize uncertainties. While all models that account for atmospheric effects enhance accuracy, InsolMets stands out as the most accurate model for estimating solar radiation across the Iberian Peninsula throughout the year, achieving the lowest RMSE and normalized RMSE values. Full article
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