An investigation of sky radiance from the

measurement at a tropical site

Cite as: AIP Conference Proceedings 1810, 080006 (2017); https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4975537
Published Online: 22 February 2017

Korntip Tohsing, Walaiporn Klomkliang, Itsara Masiri, and Serm Janjai

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© 2017 Author(s).
 An Investigation of Sky Radiance from the Measurement at
a Tropical Site

Korntip Tohsing a), Walaiporn Klomkliang, Itsara Masiri and Serm Janjai

Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Silpakorn University, Nakhon Pathom 73000, Thailand
a)
Corresponding author: korntip.tohsing@gmail.com

Abstract. The sky radiance was measured by using a sky scanner (EKO, model MS-321LR) at a tropical site in Nakhon Pathom
(13.82o N, 100.04o E), Thailand. A three-year period of sky radiance data was analyzed. Sky radiance distribution for each
season was investigated. The results showed that the monsoons had strong effect on the sky radiance distribution. The hourly
clear sky radiance from the measurements was also compared with that obtained from the corresponding sky radiance calculated
from the CIE model, which considers two different standard clear sky types. It was found that the measured and calculated sky
radiances were in reasonable agreement, for both cases.

INTRODUCTION

The angular distribution of diffuse solar radiation is very importance for many applications. The sky radiance,
which is a part of the diffuse solar radiation, plays an important role in the current technology. For example, it is used
in the calculation of the irradiance on surfaces, which is an essential factor in the design and performance
investigations of non-horizontal surfaces of buildings and energy-collecting devices, such as photovoltaic (PV)
systems [1-2]. The solar radiation incident on the wall of the building is also needed for an optimize design and
installation of air conditioning [3]. In order to utilize these applications, we have to know the sky radiance data at that
location. The sky radiance can be measured using sky scanner, which is designed to collect the solar radiation in small
zenith and azimuthal steps following an incremental viewing angle. The variation of sky radiance has been observed
under different sky conditions [4-5]. However, the sky scanner is relatively expensive, non-mobile and requires
qualified person for the maintenance, which leads to insufficient of sky radiance data. For example, in Thailand, only
one measurement of sky radiance at the North of Bangkok was available and analyzed [6]. Therefore, some
researchers have proposed the model or method for estimating sky radiance [7-8] to obtain the sky radiance at the
desire location.
In this work, the 3-year period of clear sky radiance distribution for each season measured at Nakhon Pathom,
Thailand was investigated. The sky radiance distributions at 9:30, 12:30 and 15:30 was presented. After that, the
hourly averaged clear sky radiance from the measurement will be also compared with the sky radiance obtained from
CIE standard model [9].

METHODOLOGY
Sky radiance data were obtained from a sky scanner (EKO, Model: MS 301LR) in W/m2-sr. This instrument
located on the roof of the Science Building, Faculty of Science, Silpakorn University, Nakhon Pathom (13.82oN,
100.04oE), Thailand. It scans 145 standardized spots on the sky hemisphere. These points are distributed in a regular

Radiation Processes in the Atmosphere and Ocean (IRS2016)

AIP Conf. Proc. 1810, 080006-1–080006-4; doi: 10.1063/1.4975537
Published by AIP Publishing. 978-0-7354-1478-5/$30.00

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grid over the sky. The measurement is routinely taken every 10 min, which each scan being completed in 4 minutes.
The clear sky radiance during a three-year period (2013 -2015) was analyzed.
For the modeling in this work, the clear sky radiance can be estimated by applying the CIE standard model,
which generally proposed for estimating sky luminance [9]. The ratio between relative sky radiance of an arbitrary
sky element R(Zi,F௝ ) to the zenith radiance R(0) is described as
ோ(௓೔ ,Fೕ ) ௙(Fೕ )ఝ(௓೔ )
=
ோ(଴) ௙(௓ೞ )ఝ(଴)
where ߮ is the radiance gradation function defined as the function of the angular distance from the examined sky
element to the zenith, while ݂ is the function of the indicatrix angle (F௝ ) defined as the angular distance from the sky
element to the sun coordinate. ܼ௦ is angular distance between the sun and the zenithal point, ܼ௜ is defined as the
angular distance between a sky elements and the zenith. R(0) is zenith sky radiance obtained from the
measurements.
The radiance gradation function of a sky element can be expressed as
௕ గ గ
߮(ܼ௜ ) = 1 + ܽ ή exp( ), when 0 ൑ ܼ௜ ൑ and ߮( ) = 1, at the horizon.
௖௢௦௓೔ ଶ ଶ

Therefore, the gradation function at the zenith is ߮(0) = 1 + ܽ ή exp(ܾ).

గ
The indicatrix function ݂ is expressed as ݂ ቀF௝ ቁ = 1 + ܿ ή ቂexp ቀ݀ F௝ ቁ െ exp ቀ݀ ቁቃ + ݁ ή ܿ‫ ݏ݋‬ଶ F௝ .
ଶ

గ
It values at the zenithal point can be written as ݂(ܼ௦ ) = 1 + ܿ ή ቂexp(ܼ݀௦ ) െ exp ቀ݀ ቁቃ + ݁ ή ܿ‫ ݏ݋‬ଶ ܼ௦ .
ଶ

Parameters a, b, c, d and e are given values for 15 standard sky types [9]. We calculated the sky radiance from the
CIE standard model for clear sky with low turbidity (standard sky type 12) and polluted atmosphere (standard sky
type 13).

RESULTS

1. Clear sky radiance distributions

Three-year period of hourly average sky radiance measured during 2013 -2015 at 9:30, 12:30 and 15:30 are
presented in Fig. 1(a), Fig. 1(b) and Fig. 1(c) respectively. The contour plot of each month shows the values of sky
radiance under clear sky condition. The black spot represents the sun’s position and circumsolar region that the sky
scanner avoids measuring this point. The clear sky radiance increases from morning to midday and decreases to a
minimum value in the evening, following the diurnal variation of solar radiation. The minimum value of sky
radiance for each month can be found to be in the opposite area to the sun’s position. The distributions also
demonstrate a seasonal variation in sky radiance. From January to May, the sky radiance increases by following a
change of solar zenith angles and it is more pronounced in the noon time. Actually, from June to October, the sky
radiance is decreased due to the influence of the south-west monsoon, which brings moist air and cloudy skies and
frequent rain periods. But during this three-year period, all the part of the country encountered the drought and there
was no rain until the end of August, which shown the maximum value of the sky radiance over the year.

2. Model comparisons

By using the parameters a, b, c, d and e for clear sky with low turbidity (type 12) as -1.0, -0.32, 10, -3.0 and
0.45 respectively and also for clear sky with polluted atmosphere (type 13) as -1.0, -0.32, 16, -3.0 and 0.30
respectively, the radiance gradation and indicatrix functions are calculated. The preliminary comparison is based
on the data taken at 9:30 am – 16:30 pm covering a period of 2013-2015 as presented in Fig. 2(a) for the sky type
12’s model and Fig. 2(b) for the sky type 13’s model.
It is observed that the hourly average clear sky radiance from the measurement and the calculation are in good
agreement. The difference between both datasets as shown in mean bias difference (MBD) and root mean square

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difference (RMSD). The values of MBD are -0.15% and 5.47% for the sky type 12 and 13 respectively. The RMSD
are 62.05% and 61.61% for the sky type 12 and 13 respectively. The RMSD shows quite high deviation between
both datasets. The maximum deviations of the measured to calculated sky radiance correspond to the position of the
sun. Directly applying the parameters from the CIE model for estimating the sky radiance might be not suitable for
the local weather and atmospheric conditions and it can lead to the discrepancy between both values. Therefore, the
general model for calculating sky radiance has to be further formulated.

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN

JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

(a)

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN

JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

(b)

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN

JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

(c)

FIGURE 1. Three-year average of clear sky radiance distributions of each month during 2013 – 2015 for the local
time at 9:30 (a), 12:30 (b) and 15:30 (c). The black spot represents the sun’s position and circumsolar region.

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 Measured sky radiance [W/m2-sr] 20 20

Measured sky radiance [W/m2-sr]

15 15

10 10

2013 2013
5 2014 5
2014
2015
2015
0 0
0 5 10 15 20 0 5 10 15 20
Calculated sky radiance [W/m2-sr] Calculated sky radiance [W/m2-sr]

(a) (b)
FIGURE 2. Comparison between daily average sky radiance obtained from the measurement and that calculated
from the CIE model sky type 12 (a) and sky type 13 (b). The comparison is based on the data taken at 9:30 am –
16:30 pm covering a three-year period. Each color represents the comparison of each year. The orthogonal line
represents the 1:1 line.

CONCLUSIONS
The sky radiance data can be utilized in a wide range of applications and it is obvious that this quantity is
important for general research in solar radiation. In this work, the three-year period of clear sky radiance
distributions measured by using a sky scanner at Nakhon Pathom, Thailand collected at 9:30, 12:30 and 15:30 is
presented. The distribution shows that the minimum value of sky radiance for each month found to be at the
opposite region to the sun’s position. The measured hourly average clear sky radiance was also compared with the
calculated values by applying parameters from two CIE standard models under clear sky condition. The discrepancy
between both dataset was obtained. The error caused by the different sky and atmospheric conditions during the
measurement and the calculation from the model.

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