Study of Atmospheric Turbidity on Different Algerian Sites Using a Model and MSG Satellite Images

Abstract

The temporal analysis of solar radiation at ground level provides essential elements on atmospheric transmission and its evolution. This is especially important for various applications such as solar power systems, optical communications, etc. This article therefore deals on the one hand with the estimation of Global Solar Radiation at Ground Level (GSRGL) from MSG3 satellite images of different spectral channels, a very important parameter for various sites in Algeria considered as privileged areas for the conversion installation PV. The paper also deals with the estimation of the Linke factor T l linked to the Angström parameter β which provides information on the quantity of aerosols present in the atmosphere of the sites considered. A reminder of the method previously used to estimate GSRGL is first performed. Improvements made to address outstanding issues are then outlined. We then present a new method for estimating T l at the time of measurements, an input parameter of the clear sky-model ESRA2 useful for the improved method. The results obtained for T l using ground meteorological measurements are presented and compared to those obtained from satellite data. The validation of the improved method from GSRGL measurements carried out in Ghardaïa (southern Algeria) is finally presented and discussed. We conclude that the presented method can now be used to estimate GSRGL for potential Algerian solar sites.