Analysis of Factors Affecting the Solar Radiation

Received by any Region

Arun Pratap Singh Rathod, Poornima Mittal Brijesh Kumar
Department of Electronics and Communication Departemnt of Electronics and Communication
Engineering, Engineering,
Graphic Era University Dehradun M. M. M. U. T. Gorakhpur
Dehradun, India Gorakhpur, India
major.rathod@gmail.com, poornima2822@gmail.com brijesh_kumar@ieee.org

Abstract—Solar energy is the ultimate source of energy on our that place, altitude, terrain, seasons, and even day time as
planet. All other sources of energy are derivative of it. Lately depicted in Fig. 1. In addition, atmospheric or local features
photovoltaic cells both organic and inorganic have gained a such as dust particles, aerosols, cloud, humidity temperature,
greater commercial ground than ever. Initiatives such as pressure and snow cover also leads to variation in solar
International Solar Alliance have given a boost to solar energy
harnessing. Therefore, lots of efforts have been put in making
radiation.
photovoltaic devices more efficient. But harnessing of solar
energy primarily depends on availability of quality and quantity
of insolation or solar radiation received by an area on ground.
several factors such as altitude, terrain, air quality, cloud cover,
vegetation of the region etc. collectively determine the net solar
radiation received by a particular area which can harnessed by
solar cells or solar panels to produce electricity. Therefore, in this
paper we have studied the effects of these factors on total solar
radiation received by earth and hence proposed the suitable
conditions for setting up solar harnessing devices.

Keywords—Solar radiation, Insolation, Air pollution, Solar

energy harvesting, Altitude and Latitude.

I. INTRODUCTION
This Solar energy is the most abundant and inexhaustible
energy resource on our planet, mainly composed of gases. It is
a free gift of nature available to both biotic as well as abiotic
component of the ecosystem. The concept of harnessing
ultimate source of energy helps in decrementing the
dependency on other perishable resources of nature.
The heat energy emitted from the sun can be compared with
an enormous nuclear fusion reactor which radiates its energy in
form of electromagnetic waves. The amount of energy
generated by sun is near 3.8 x 1026 Watts (Moore 1988) [1].
From this large pool of energy earth gets about 1373 W/m2,
that is normally termed as the solar constant (Rijal 1984) [2].
On entering the atmosphere the sunlight engages with various
variables like ozone, dust, carbon dioxide, and humidity etc. Fig. 1 Different factors affecting the insolation received on earth.
due to which part of it gets scattered and some part gets
absorbed. There the insolation reaching the ground is
attenuated and comprises both diffused and direct insolation. This paper is divided into five sections. Section I introduces
The suitability of a site for solar energy use has to be evaluated us to the various constraints affecting the solar radiation
not only on the basis of the average solar radiation flux received by earth. Section II is focussed on the effect of
available, but also on the value of the ratio of average to altitude and relief of the area. Section III deals with the
maximum attainable flux (Bansal 2000) [3]. Solar radiation implication of seasons on solar insolation received by an area.
received by a particular place generally varies with different Section IV is consisting of effects of air quality, humidity and
geographical features such as latitude which passes through
vegetation on solar insolation. Finally, conclusion is presented example, ‘windward’ slopes and ‘leeward’ slopes will be
in section V. respectively wetter and drier than regional average values, as
the air mass rises and descends in its path across the
II. EFFECT OF ALTITUDE AND RELIEF mountains (Barry 1981) [5].
The intensity of solar radiation at a place is basically
altered by general weather of that area that comprises rainfall,
cloud cover, temperature etc. A primary feature of solar
radiation is that it is not uniform and physical factors such as
altitude, relief and slope alter the harnessing accessibility of
solar energy in mountainous regions significantly and thus
need careful understanding. The terms ‘relief’ and ‘altitude’
are not synonymous. Altitude is an absolute term, defined with
respect to sea level. In a physical sense, relief determines the
kinetic energy of the mountain surface, while altitude
determines the properties of the air mass surrounding the
mountain. The altitudinal interval occupied by the local relief
of a given mountain is a primary factor in determining
differences among mountains as shown in Fig. 2. This, in turn,
produces significant differences in terms of meteorological
parameters in the mountains (Bansal 2000) [3].

Fig. 3 Solar radiation received by various parts of India annually (secondary

data from NREL, SEC, Govt. of India).

Fig. 3 throws light on the variation in insolation received

by various states of India annually. Here we can clearly make
out that states with higher altitude, less precipitation and less
vegetation have higher annual insolation than greener states.
Kerala being closest to the equator receives high insolation
even after having thick vegetation and good precipitation.

III. EFFECT OF LATITUDE AND SEASON

The second factor associated with aspect involves the
maximum amount of sunlight possible during a year, or
season, for any given latitude. North-facing slopes receive the
least with east-and west-facing slopes receiving an
intermediate value. This difference between north-facing and
south-facing slopes increases with distance from the equator
and with increasing altitude in any mountain range, as the
importance of sunlight increases. The windward-leeward
relationships will be most in the eastern portion of the region,
at least at lower altitude, while orientation with respect to solar
angle will be more important in the western portion of the
region (Geiger 1966) [6].
Fig 2: Amount of solar radiation received by India annually.

In this region, both altitude and relief are at a maximum

for the earth as a whole, maximising the effects of both
altitude and relief (Alford 1992) [4]. Slope determines the
local relief. Large changes in height against comparatively
small flat distances very much enhance the job done by slopes
in addition to several snow peaks in vicinity who work as big
reflectors, and therefore increasing the albedo factor and also
incrementing the availability of solar radiation at a particular
location. Aspect, which is the compass direction faced by a
slope plays a crucial role in modifying the pattern of
precipitation and the availability of solar insolation. For

Fig. 4 Effect of lattitude and seasons on solar radiation reception.
The climate of the region is characterized by four main
seasons: winter (December to February); pre- monsoon or
summer (March to mid-June); monsoon (mid-June to mid-
September); and autumn or post- monsoon (mid-September to
November) (J. S. Lall, 1981) [7]. These seasons depend on the
position of earth with respect to sun as shown in Fig. 4. It can
be noted from the figure that due to a 23.5-degree tilt in
earth’s rotational axis its one side is closer and have summer
whereas the other side has winter. It is also significant from
figure that the insolation is highest between the tropics and
decreases beyond it because sun rays does not fall
perpendicularly there but with some angle hence reducing the
total insolation received in these temperate and polar regions.
Moreover in Indian context the Himalayas abruptly rise in
series due to folding of plains, and create various complexities
in the local climatic situation in the region. As a result several
subdivisions and sub-climates are formed by vivid changes in
the altitude, orientation, size, slopes of the mountains, plateaus
and valleys (Domroes 1979) [8].
Normally, areas with arid and semi-arid climatic
conditions which lie between 35 degree north and 35 degree
south of equator are found more convenient for harnessing
solar energy (Stambolis 1981) [9], as the diffused radiation is
much lower in these regions owing to dry air and clear
weather. At the same time, the extent and nature of cloud
cover drastically reduces the amount of direct radiation, while
snow cover helps in incrementing albedo factor locally and
subsequently increasing the total radiation received by a place.
The main variation in the temperature between the eastern
and western part of the region is caused by the difference in
the duration and strength of the monsoon in summer and the
passage of western disturbances in winter. Onset of monsoon
in Arabian sea with a sudden change in cloud formation,
humidity and temperature, rainfall and velocity of wind. At the
same time in Bay of Bengal the weather transformation is
placid and comprises an increment in formation of cloud,
foggy surroundings and rainfall with minor alteration in
temperature and water vapors. It is in winter that snow
accumulates around the Himalayan peaks and the snowline
comes down to about 1,500 m in the western Himalayas,
whereas it is at 3,000 m or above in the eastern Himalayas (J.
S. Lall, 1981) [7].
The summers, are warmer and winters colder in the west
(e.g., Leh,Skardu, Srinagar) and on the Tibetan Plateau (e.g.,
Chamdo, Lhasa), while the annual range of temperature is
comparatively lower in the east (e.g., Gantok, Darjeeling,
Shillong); hence there are prominent variation in total solar
radiation received by different parts of the country. For
example, the maximum average temperature in Leh during
summer is 22°C and the minimum average temperature during
winter is –10°C, whilein Gantok, maximum average
temperature in summer is 13°C and the minimum average
temperature during winter is –6°C. The variation is due to the
prolonged foggy mornings that prevail as a result of the local
weather conditions prevailing in that region. Cloud cover
hampers the global insolation in summer months. April
experiences lowest variations due to clear sky and low
humidity. Knowledge of the sun path and intensity of global
solar radiation falling on earth surface at different times in a
day at a particular location is essential for determining the
amount of solar energy trapped in that particular region.
IV. EFFECT OF CLOUD COVER & AIR QUALITY,
HUMIDITY AND VEGETATION
Fig. 5 Effect of air quality, humidity and vegetation of solar radiation
reception on land.
After Cloud cover and air pollution affect solar radiation
by scattering and absorbing and limits the total quantity of
insolation that is received in a particular region as also
indicated in Fig. 5. On a clear cloudless day, we may receive
near 1000 W/m2 of insolation on the surface of the earth. But
if light clouds appear in the sky then, a part of the insolation or
solar radiation is scattered and absorbed in this light cloud
cover and the insolation received on ground is largely
scattered and not direct. Therefore, amount of insolation
received by the land is around 830 W/m2. As the cloud
coverage becomes denser then the total irradiance or
insolation received at ground gets reduced to 300 W/m2 and if
the clouds are hanging low insolation gets limited to 230
W/m2. Finally, during thick overcast conditions, received solar
radiation is as low as 150 W/m2 during afternoons [10].
Air quality plays an important role in solar radiation
reception of any region. Factors like smog and brown clouds
(local air pollution plumes which are consist of considerable
amounts of microscopic particulate suspended matter, nitrates
and sulphates, , fly ash and other different pollutants) affects
the local insolation by scattering and absorbing the sunlight
like lights [11]. Therefore, in areas with higher air pollution
even if the sky is clear and annual precipitation is also low the
insolation received by the region still can be less owing to the
losses incurred by air quality [12].
Finally, the insolation of a region is also determined by the
vegetation of that area. In region where vegetation is too dense
or comprises of tall trees like rain forest regions and
mountainous forest of Himalayan foot hills the solar radiation
is limited by forest cover. People residing in such regions
can’t rely on solar energy as shade caused by the vegetation
does not allow the solar radiation to reach the ground in a
significant amount. Sunlight received is mostly diffused and
scattered and not direct largely. On contrary arid and semi-arid
regions of Indian states Gujarat and Rajasthan are among the
top producers of solar energy in the world as the vegetation
cover is almost zero there. Trees are very scattered and short
their insolation of the region achieves its maximum value.
Also the absence of air pollution and low precipitation also
add to the reasons why this region is so rich in solar energy
harvesting.
V. CONCLUSION
REFERENCES
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This research paper has highlighted the effect of different

geographical and atmospheric factors on reception of solar
radiation on earth. It has been observed that solar radiation
increases with increase in altitude. Further it also enhances
when position of earth is closer to the sun in summers and is
maximum between the latitudes lying between the tropic of
cancer and tropic of Capricorn. Beyond that it start decreasing
and is minimum at poles. Moreover the reception of solar
radiation is more uniform in plains and plateaus whereas it is
highly uneven in hilly and mountainous regions. Cloud cover
is major factor in determining the amount of solar radiation
received by an area. Furthermore air quality and local
vegetation also plays a decisive role in determining insolation
of a region as it diffuses and bocks the sunlight and diminishes
the total received insolation. As a result India is receiving 6%
less solar radiation what it used to receive in pre
industrialization era. Therefore while emphasizing on research
on photovoltaics it should also be taken into consideration the
in what region they are going to be deployed so that there
efficiencies can be enhanced and they can used to their
maximums.