A hybrid modelling approach for assessing solar radiation

A hybrid technique for solar radiation estimation, a core part of hydrological cycle, is presented in this study which parameterises the cloud cover effect (cloud cover index) not just from the geostationary satellites but also the PSU/NCAR's Mesoscale Modelling system (MM5) model. This, together with output from a global clear sky radiation model and observed datasets of temperature and precipitation are used as inputs within the Gamma test (GT) environment for the development of nonlinear models for global solar radiation estimation. The study also explores the ability of Gamma test to determine the optimum input combination and data length selection. Artificial neural network- and local linear regression-based nonlinear techniques are used to test the proposed methodology, and the results have shown a high degree of correlation between the observed and estimated values. It is believed that this study will initiate further exploration of GT for improving informed data and model selection.