Estimation of daily and monthly direct, diffuse and global solar radiation from sunshine duration measurements

An accurate 200 W/m2 threshold pyreheliometer instrument for measuring the duration of bright sunshine has been used to derive daily and monthly regressions for direct, diffuse, and global solar radiation component vs sunshine duration. Daily regression for diffuse/global are linear in sunshine duration, while quadratic regression forms are employed for direct normal, direct horizontal, and global/extraterrestrial components. Only the daily direct normal component had regression values which depend on season while all of the monthly regressions depend on season. Linear regression relations for monthly direct normal, diffuse/global and global/extraterrestrial are employed, with a quadratic form being used for direct horizontal. Effects of rainfall, especially in overcast conditions, and of atmospheric turbidity and precipitable water, especially under clear-sky conditions, are observed and documented.