A Satellite-Based Method for Forecasting Solar Radiation Part II: Radiative Transfer and Model Validation

In a previous work we presented a methodology for forecasting the future cloud distribution in the atmosphere by using the capabilities of the Advanced Himawari Imager (AHI) which provides high frequency imagery (every 10min) of the Asian hemisphere. This capability is used to detect and characterize cloud physical and optical characteristics over a fixed geographical location centered over Singapore. In this present work, we report on the forecast (1-3Hrs) of short-wave solar radiation by using a radiative transfer model, that includes aerosols and clouds, and applied to future cloud distribution scenarios resulting from the cloud motion scheme reported in our earlier work.