Abstract :
This paper presents real measurements of Direct
Solar Radiation (DSR), Direct Normal Irradiance (DNI), Diffuse
Horizontal Irradiance (DHI) and Global Horizontal Irradiance
(GHI), Temperature and Humidity in Sohar-Oman (21o N, 57o
E) throughout the year, with the existing meteorological
conditions encountered. Real-time, high resolution solar
radiation and other meteorological data were collected and
processed. Monthly and daily statistics of DSR were calculated
from the one-minute average recorded by the weather station.
The highest one-minute average daily DSR was recorded as 937
W/m2. The highest monthly and daily mean DSR values were
recorded as 730 and 493.5 W/m2, respectively. In addition to
DSR, surface temperature variations, the daily average clearness
indexes, and relative humidity variations are discussed. When
possible, DSR and some meteorological data are compared with
corresponding data of the 22-year average of NASA’s surface
meteorology model, Department of Meteorology-Oman (1987-
1992) and author measurements. The measured data (DSR and
meteorological) are in close agreement with the NASA SSE model
and Department of Meteorology-Oman (1987-1992) with some
discrepancy.
Keyword :
Solar energy, direct beam radiation, temperature, humidity, meteorological information