On the applicability of the Heliosat-2 method to assess surface solar irradiance in the Intertropical Convergence Zone, French Guiana

Abstract : Measurements of daily means of surface solar irradiance made at four ground stations in French Guiana are compared to estimates from the HelioClim-3 database produced by the Heliosat-2 method applied to Meteosat satellite images. The bias ranges from 12 W m−2 (6% of the mean of measurements) to 23 W m−2 (12%), depending on the stations. The root mean square difference ranges between 23 W m−2 (11%) and 35 W m−2 (18%). The correlation coefficient (r) is close to 0.9. Better results are observed during the rainy season than during the dry season. Uncertainties are mainly due to the presence of clouds, large viewing angles of the Meteosat satellite, and limitations of the atmospheric transmittance model under the tropical atmospheric conditions. It is concluded that the Heliosat-2 method provides new knowledge about solar radiation in French Guiana.