Evaluation of a ground-based sky camera system for use in surface irradiance measurement
Article
Article Title | Evaluation of a ground-based sky camera system for use in surface irradiance measurement |
---|---|
ERA Journal ID | 1920 |
Article Category | Article |
Authors | Sabburg, Jeff (Author) and Wong, Joe (Author) |
Journal Title | Journal of Atmospheric and Oceanic Technology |
Journal Citation | 16 (6), pp. 752-759 |
Number of Pages | 8 |
Year | 1999 |
Place of Publication | Boston, MA. United States |
ISSN | 0739-0572 |
1520-0426 | |
Digital Object Identifier (DOI) | https://doi.org/10.1175/1520-0426(1999)016<0752:EOAGBS>2.0.CO;2 |
Abstract | This paper describes the evaluation of a ground-based sky camera system for studying the effect of clouds on the level of the ambient ultraviolet radiation. The system has been developed for research in the characterization of the effect of clouds around the sun. It is the first sky camera system to be used for the assessment of cloud conditions in the vicinity of the sun, rather than a whole-sky assessment. The system features a sun-tracking sky camera with an integrated measurement of horizontally received radiation at the same location. The image-processing algorithm uses solar radiation readings to reduce reflections from the sun on the camera system being mistaken for cloud in the images. Cloud amount was estimated in an angular region of between 12.5°and 37.5° around the sun. The algorithm also estimates the amount of solar obstruction by cloud (sun not covered, partially or totally covered). The system was evaluated during September 1997 at Toowoomba, Australia (27.6°S latitude). Compared to manual assessment of 592 images, 76.5% were identified correctly by the algorithm for the degree of solar obstruction and 81.9% for cloud amount. The behavior of ultraviolet radiation levels with cloud conditions is discussed. |
Keywords | cloud cover; instrumentation; irradiance; ultraviolet radiation |
ANZSRC Field of Research 2020 | 400305. Biomedical instrumentation |
370106. Atmospheric radiation | |
370107. Cloud physics | |
Byline Affiliations | Centre for Astronomy, Solar Radiation and Climate |
Queensland University of Technology | |
Institution of Origin | University of Southern Queensland |
https://research.usq.edu.au/item/q05yx/evaluation-of-a-ground-based-sky-camera-system-for-use-in-surface-irradiance-measurement
Download files
1807
total views251
total downloads4
views this month3
downloads this month