A Geometric Solar Radiation Model With Applications
in Agriculture and Forestry
Incoming solar radiation is
fundamental to physical and biophysical processes because of its role in the
energy and water balance. Insolation is a term that was coined as an expression
for incoming solar radiation. Insolation affects processes like air, soil
heating, evapotranspiration, photosynthesis, winds and snow melt. Currently
there are not accurate maps that express insolation of a given area. These maps
are needed for agriculture and forestry. They would be able to explain the soil
temperature of a given area that is not a just an average based on an all-encompassing
model for a specific area.
Insolation monitoring stations are
located in relatively flat locations where there is an abundance of human
interaction. This could warp the data that these systems are trying to receive.
These current models also assume the underlying surface is flat, which is not
always the case and can warp the data as well. When insolation-monitoring
stations are constructed, spatially based solar radiation models will provide a
cost-efficient means for characterizing the spatial and temporal variation of
insolation. This type of model will help create an accurate insolation map for
the GIS analyst to help benefit those trying to see the soil temperature in
agriculture and forestry.
Looking at a case study, the
researchers used seven different sampling sites to view insolation. The results
show that there was a very different temperature regime between the different
locations. The data shows that there is an inversely proportional relationship
between temperature and elevation. The data also shows that insolation explains
daily temperature variation.
Using insolation-monitoring stations
that are spatially based will help explain the fine-scale patterns across the
landscape. This type of model will also help other applications involving the
energy and water balance within agriculture and forestry and will be more cost
efficient than the former system.
Bibliography:
Fu,
P., & Rich, P. M. (2002). A geometric solar radiation model with
applications in agriculture and
forestry. Computers and electronics in agriculture, 37(1),
25-35.
I would like to know how exactly these insolation monitoring stations work. Also, is there a benefit to being able to understand the soil insolation? I understand that insolation has a direct affect on various natural processes, but what will people be able to do with this information?
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