topic Re: Raster Radiation Tool Weather Conditions in ArcGIS Spatial Analyst Questions

Raster Radiation Tool Weather Conditions

Ed_ — Thu, 27 Feb 2025 16:01:25 GMT

Hello, how does the tool factor in the weather conditions? For example, a place in Texas may have much more daily solar charge potential than say Chicago or Boston or Seattle. So, depending on an area's weather conditions, investment in solar panels may not be viable. The tool does have two Diffuse Model Types, Uniform Sky and Overcast Sky, how does these two model factor in daily weather conditions which vary from place to place?

Are there other tools for such an analysis that can be in conjunction with Raster Solar Radiation.

Re: Raster Radiation Tool Weather Conditions

DanPatterson — Thu, 27 Feb 2025 17:36:10 GMT

How Raster Solar Radiation works—ArcGIS Pro | Documentation

These tools provide a baseline based on latitude which can be calculated for any location. If a surface has a slope and orientation, then the flat surface values can be modified to account for these. All calculations presume a clear sky (atmospheric thickness and turbidity can be factored if one has real world values comparing actual to theoretical values)

No model is going to be able to factor seasonal/daily/hourly changes in the "weather".

Sky conditions can ony be modelled by an atmospheric turbidity.

Now Solar Resource Maps and Data | Geospatial Data Science | NREL | Geospatial Data Science | NREL

should it still be active, may be a place to consult to compare latitudinal potentials vs site specific ones, which may account for real world measurements.

If you want real values, then you have to consult your climate normals for the amounts of direct and diffuse solar radiation collected. Some places can give an estimate of actual versus clear sky (theori

Re: Raster Radiation Tool Weather Conditions

DanPatterson — Thu, 27 Feb 2025 17:39:47 GMT

ps... my undergraduate thesis

Global Irradiance on Slopes

1977

And the sun still shines in most places the same way 😂

Re: Raster Radiation Tool Weather Conditions

Ed_ — Thu, 27 Feb 2025 17:39:50 GMT

Thanks Dan, it would be nice to have the tool and maybe even the Feature Radiation tool to have weather related optimization baked in it.

Re: Raster Radiation Tool Weather Conditions

Ed_ — Thu, 27 Feb 2025 17:41:25 GMT

Can't wait for the sun to some more when winter is over and i can't hit the beach lol