Solar Energy Forecasting and Resource Assessment

Chapter 3

Physically Based Satellite Methods

Steven D. Miller,    Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere, Colorado State University

Andrew K. Heidinger,    National Environmental Satellite, Data and Information Service, NOAA Center for Satellite Applications and Research

Manajit Sengupta,    National Renewable Energy Laboratory

Chapter Outline

3.1. Introduction

3.2. Satellite Observing Systems

3.3. Cloud and Aerosol Detection and Property Characterization

3.3.1. Clouds

3.3.2. Aerosols

3.4. Relating Properties to Surface-Irradiance Parameters

3.4.1. Single-Step Methods

3.4.2. Two-Step Methods

3.5. Example Processing and Datasets

3.5.1. International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project

3.5.2. NASA Global Surface Radiation Budget