Mahmood and Al-Hassany Iraqi Journal of Science, 2014, Vol 55, No.

4A, pp: 1663-1674

Study Global Solar Radiation Based on Sunshine Hours in Iraq

Faleh H. Mahmood*, Gheidaa Sabeeh Al-Hassany

1
Remote sensing Unit, College of Science, University of Baghdad, Baghdad, Iraq

Abstract:
In this paper the solar radiation over the region of Iraq was studied and
calculated. Empirical models for the Estimation of Global Solar Radiation
depending on Sunshine Hours on Horizontal Surface in Various Cities of Iraq were
produced (Baghdad, Rutba and Nassiria. In developing countries like Iraq
measurement ability of the global solar radiation and its components is not available
for all locations due to which there is a requirement of using different models (FAO,
Rietveld, Glover and Tiwari - Sangeeta) for the estimation of global solar radiation
that use climatological parameters of the locations. Empirical constants for these
models have been estimated and the results obtained by these models have been
tested statistically. The results show a good agreement between estimated and
measured values.

Keywords: Solar radiation, Incoming Radiation, solar energy, global solar radiation,
extraterrestrial radiation

‫دراﺳﺔ اﻹﺷﻌﺎع اﻟﺷﻣﺳﻲ اﻟﻌﺎﻟﻣﻲ ﺑﺎﻻﻋﺗﻣﺎد ﻋﻠﻰ ﺳﺎﻋﺎت اﻟﺳطوع ﻓﻲ اﻟﻌراق‬

‫ ﻏﯾداء ﺻﺑﯾﺢ ﻫﺎدي‬،*‫ﻓﺎﻟﺢ ﺣﺳن ﻣﺣﻣود‬

‫ اﻟﻌراق‬، ‫ ﺑﻐداد‬،‫ ﺟﺎﻣﻌﺔ ﺑﻐداد‬، ‫ ﻛﻠﯾﺔ اﻟﻌﻠوم‬،‫وﺣدة اﻻﺳﺗﺷﻌﺎر ﻋن ﺑﻌد‬

:‫اﻟﺧﻼﺻﺔ‬
‫ ﺗم إﻧﺗﺎج ﻧﻣﺎذج اﻟﺗﺟرﯾﺑﯾﺔ ﻟﺗﺧﻣﯾن‬.‫ﺗم ﻓﻲ ﻫذا اﻟﺑﺣث دراﺳﺔ وﺣﺳﺎب اﻻﺷﻌﺎع اﻟﺷﻣﺳﻲ ﻓوق ﻣﻧطﻘﺔ اﻟﻌراق‬
‫اﻹﺷﻌﺎع اﻟﺷﻣﺳﻲ اﻹﺟﻣﺎﻟﻲ ﻋﻠﻰ ﺳطﺢ أﻓﻘﻲ إﻋﺗﻣﺎدا ﻋﻠﻰ ﺳﺎﻋﺎت اﻟﺳطوع اﻟﺷﻣﺳﻲ ﻟﻣدن ﻣﺧﺗﻠﻔﺔ ﻓﻲ اﻟﻌراق‬
‫ﻓﻲ ﺑﻠدان ﻧﺎﻣﯾﺔ ﻣﺛل اﻟﻌراق إﻣﻛﺎﻧﯾﺔ ﻗﯾﺎس اﻻﺷﻌﺎع اﻟﺷﻣﺳﻲ اﻻﺟﻣﺎﻟﻲ وﻣﻛوﻧﺎﺗﻪ ﻟﯾﺳت‬.(‫ ﻧﺎﺻرﯾﺔ‬,‫ رطﺑﺔ‬،‫)ﺑﻐداد‬
‫داﺋﻣﺎ ﻣﺗوﻓرة ﻟﻛل اﻟﻣواﻗﻊ ﻣﻣﺎ ﯾؤدي اﻟﻰ اﻟﺣﺎﺟﺔ اﻟﻰ إﺳﺗﺧدام ﻧﻣﺎذج ﻣﺧﺗﻠﻔﺔ )اﻟﻣﻧظﻣﺔ اﻟﻌﺎﻟﻣﯾﺔ ﻟﻸﻏذﯾﺔ‬
‫ ﺳﻧﺟﯾﺗﺎ( ﻟﺗﺧﻣﯾن اﻻﺷﻌﺎع اﻟﺷﻣﺳﻲ اﻻﺟﻣﺎﻟﻲ ﺑﺄﺳﺗﺧدام اﻟﻣؤﺷرات اﻟﻣﻧﺎﺧﯾﺔ‬-‫ ﺟﻠوﻓر وﺗوﯾﻧﻲ‬،‫ رﯾﺗﻔل‬،FAO‫ﻓﺎو‬
‫اﻟﺛواﺑت اﻟﺗﺟرﯾﺑﯾﺔ ﻟﻬذﻩ اﻟﻧﻣﺎذج ﻗد ﺗم ﺗﺧﻣﯾﻧﻬﺎ واﺳﺗﺣﺻﻠت اﻟﻧﺗﺎﺋﺞ ﺑواﺳطﺔ ﻫذﻩ اﻟﻧﻣﺎذج وﻗد ﺗم‬.‫ﻟﺗﻠك اﻟﻣواﻗﻊ‬
.‫اﺧﺗﺑﺎرﻫﺎ إﺣﺻﺎﺋﯾﺎ أظﻬرت اﻟﻧﺗﺎﺋﺞ ﺗواﻓق ﺟﯾد ﺑﯾن اﻟﻘﯾم اﻟﻣﺧﻣﻧﺔ واﻟﻣﻘﺎﺳﺔ‬

Introduction:
Solar energy is the most abundant form of energy available, and it has been indirectly the source of
the fossil energy stored in the Earth's crust. It is a fact that the stored fossil energy resources are being
depleted (varying figures are given about when they are likely to come to an end, but as far as mineral
oil is concerned it is a matter of one or two generations), and the geothermal, wind and hydro energy
resources in the aggregate are small as compared with the total future energy needs of mankind. It is

_________________________________
Email:faleh_sine@yahoo.com
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Mahmood and Al-Hassany Iraqi Journal of Science, 2014, Vol 55, No.4A, pp: 1663-1674

therefore reasonable to assume that both in the medium as well as in the long term solar energy will
come to play an enormous role in the energy supply of the future world [1].
The sun is a nuclear power which is generates power in form of radiation at the phenomenally high
rate of 3.8x1023 kilowatts. An extremely small fraction of this is intercepted by the earth's surface, but
this small fraction amounts to a huge 1.8x1014 kilowatt. On the average about 60% of this amount
penetrates the atmosphere to reach the earth's surface (1.1x1014 Kw). This amount of power is
distributed over the entire surface of the earth. To bring this number closer to home, consider that on
bright sunny day each square meter of surface facing the sun receives about one kilowatt [2].
Development of a solar energy research program must always start with a study of solar radiation
data at a site or region of interest. A long-term measurement of solar radiation on a horizontal surface
exists for only relatively few meteorological stations. For places where it is not directly measured,
solar radiation can be estimated by using models and empirical correlations. However, the
computational complexity and associated time and input data requirements discourage many
researchers and users from basing their calculations of solar energy irradiation on models which have
strong links to the fundamental radiative equation. Rather, they are encouraged by simplicity and
expediency of calculations using empirically based methods [3].
Study Area
Iraq is located in the Middle East between latitudes 29° 5' and 37° 22' N and longitudes 38° 45' and
48° 45' E ; It is bounded By: Turkey to the north, Iran to the east, Jordan, Syria and the Saudi Arabia
to the west, and the Arabian Gulf, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia to the south as show in figure 1. In this
work we selected the following regions from Iraq
1. Baghdad Geography: It is situated at 33.34° North latitude, 44.4° East longitude and 41 meters
elevation above the sea level. It is the capital of the Republic of Iraq, Located along the Tigris River.
2. Al -Rutba Geography: It is located at 33°02′17″ North Latitude, 40 ° 17′05″ East longitudes and
618 meters elevation above the sea level. It is include the western desert region, the southern part of
the Jazeera, and the whole area west and southwest of the river plain. The area consists of level plains
to undulating surfaces with limestone rocks under the ground; in places there are wades 50 to 60
metres deep. A part is gypsum rock plain. In the south is a gravel plain which is covered by sand dunes
in places. Most of the area is a limestone rock plain.
3. Nasiriya Geography: It is located at 31°05′ North Latitude, 46 ° 14′ East longitudes and 3.32
meters elevation above the sea level. It is on the Euphrates about 225 miles (370 km) southeast of
Baghdad, near the ruins of the ancient city of Ur. It is the capital of the province of Dhi Qar.

Turkey

Syria
Iran

Al -Rutba Baghdad
Iraq
Nasiriya

Saudi Arabia

Kuwait

Figure 1-Orientation map of the study area

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Mahmood and Al-Hassany Iraqi Journal of Science, 2014, Vol 55, No.4A, pp: 1663-1674

Methodology
There are many methods to estimate the global solar radiation. The equation postulated by
(Angström, 1924) and modified by (Prescott, 1940) to its present form is by far the simplest of all the
models presented:

H
HO  a  b ( n N ) ……………………………….. (1)

Where:
H: Incoming daily global solar radiation (MJ m-2 d-1)
HO: Daily extra-terrestrial radiation (MJ m-2 d-1)
a and b Empirical constant
n: Bright sunshine hours per day (hr)
N: Astronomical day length (hr) [4]
The extraterrestrial solar radiation on a horizontal surface Ho is a function only of Latitude and
independent of other location parameters. As the solar radiation passes through the earth's atmosphere,
it is further modified by processes of scattering and absorption due to the presence of cloud and
atmospheric particles. Hence, the daily global solar irradiation incident on a horizontal surface H is
very much location specific and less than the extraterrestrial irradiation [5].
The regression constants A and B have a physical meaning: A can be considered as the fraction of
extra terrestrial radiation on overcast days. Sum of A and B can be considered as the fraction of
radiation received on clear days. For several regions in Europe, the Middle East and Northern Africa
the Angström- Prescott constants have been established by (Supit, 1994) [6] and (Supit & van Kappel,
1998)[7].
Quality of the radiation estimates obtained with equation (1) depends on the quality of the data used
to establish these regression constants. Supit (1994) showed that in many cases there is no relation
between the latitude and the coefficients, although such a relation is frequently used to estimate these
regression constants.
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) [8] , proposed two values to A and B as:
A= 0.25
B= 0.50
In Rietveld model [9], A and B has been computed as fallows
A = 0.10 + 0.24 (n/ N) . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . (2)
B = 0.38 + 0.08 (n/ N) . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . (3)
In Glover Mc-Culloch model [10], included latitudinal factor and suggested to calculate A and B as:
A= 0.29 cos (ɸ) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (4)
B= 0.52
Where(ɸ) : Latitude

The coefficients A and B can be estimated by [11] as:

A= – 0.110 + 0.235 cos (ɸ) + 0.323 (n/ N) . . . . .......... . (5)

B= 1.449 – 0.553 cos (ɸ) - 0.694 (n/ N) . . . . . . . . ... . . (6)

The accuracy of the estimated values was tested by calculating the Mean Bias Error (MBE), the
Root Mean Square Bias Error (RMSE). The expressions for the MBE (MJ.m-2day-1 ) and RMSE
(MJ.m-2 day-1 ) is stated by [12] as follows:

……………………..…(7)

……………………..…….(8)
H obs . : measured global solar radiation
H cal . : calculated global solar radiation

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The Mean Bias Error gives an idea of the divergence between the monthly average daily radiation
values estimated by the model used and the measured value. A positive value shows over estimation
and a negative value is under estimation. Over estimation of an individual observation will cancel
under estimation in a separate observation. It gives the long term performance of the correlation by
allowing a comparison of the actual deviation between calculated and measured values term by term.
The Root Mean Bias Error yields the same idea of the divergence between the monthly average daily
radiation values estimated by the model used and the measured values as given by MBE. However the
information is relevant to the short-term performance. The ideal value for MBE would be Zero. RSME
can never be negative and the lower the value the more accurate the estimate.
Results and Discussions
The extraterrestrial radiation (Ho), global solar radiation (H), and sunshine duration data reported in
this paper were supplied and solar radiation data were mainly taken from the Republic of Iraq
Meteorological Office (RIMO). From period (1982-2001) and for three selected Iraqi cities: Baghdad,
Al-Rutba and Nassiria.
Astronomical day length, extraterrestrial radiation, Sunshine hour and the recommended regression
constants A and B were employed to estimate mean monthly global solar radiation .The estimated
global solar radiation by these four empirical models is compared with observed data for the selected
cities.
The relation of measuring to that possible sunshine hour (n/N) has been shown in figure 2, and
figure 3. The analysis of the locations (Ho, H, and n/N) shows that for all locations, the maximum
values are observed in May, June and July, while the minimum values appeared in January, February,
November and December, for all locations are illustrated in figures 4.
Figure.5 represented the extraterrestrial radiation for the three locations .Figure.6: represented the
measured global solar radiation in all locations and the calculated global solar radiation by the four
models of recommended regression constants A and B for each month.
The resulted values of calculated global solar radiation H world , H cal1 , H cal 2 and H cal 3 were calculated
by applying the recommended regression constants A and B in Angstrom equation:
H cal  ( A  B (n / N )) H o
H cal1 : The calculated global solar radiation was determined when:
A = 0.10 + 0.24 (n/ N) and B = 0.38 + 0.08 (n/ N) (Rietveld model)
H cal 2 : The calculated global solar radiation when A= 0.29 cos and B= 0.52 (Glover Mc-Culloch
model)
H cal 3 : Calculated global solar radiation when:
A= – 0.110 + 0.235 cos (ɸ) + 0.323 (n/ N) and B= 1.449 – 0.553 cos (ɸ) - 0.694 (n/ N) (Tiwari
&Sangeeta model).
H world : Calculated global solar radiation when A= 0.25, B= 0.50. (FAO model)
H meas : Metrological measured global solar radiation.
The average extraterrestrial radiation (Ho), average (n/N) and average measured global solar
radiation (Hmeas), is presented in figure 5, and average calculated global solar radiation is presented
in figure 6. As shown, the average of total annual radiation for the southern larger than annual
radiation received in the northern, we can say that the solar radiation gradient from the north to the
south of Iraq.
For testing of the calculations, a statistical analysis of the results was performed for the RMSE and
MBE which represent the fundamental measured accuracy of the data.
The RMSE test provides information on the short-term performance of the studied model as it
allows a term-by term comparison of the actual deviation between the calculated value and the
measured value. The researchers have recommended that a Zero value for MBE is an ideal and a low
RMSE is adesirable.
Table (1) showed the RMSE and MBE between calculated values of the global solar radiation and
the measured values.

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Table1- MBE and RMSE of average H and for global solar radiation values and the measured values.
FAO model (Hmeas) & (Hworld) 2.522768

Rietveld model (Hmeas) & (Hcal1) 2.905978

MBE
Glover Mc-Culloch model (Hmeas) & (Hcal2) 3.887332

Tiwari &Sangeeta model (Hmeas) & (Hcal3) 2.809742

FAO model (Hmeas) & (Hworld) 2.595872

Rietveld model (Hmeas) & (Hcal1) 2.972274

RMSE
Glover Mc-Culloch model (Hmeas) & (Hcal2) 3.92499

Tiwari &Sangeeta model (Hmeas) & (Hcal3) 2.864854

Veriation of n/N at Rutba in a period 1982-2001

1982
1983
1 1984
1985
0.9
1986
0.8 1987
1988
0.7
1989
0.6 1990
1991
n/N

0.5 1992
1993
0.4
1994
0.3 1995
1996
0.2
1997
0.1 1998
1999
0 2000
JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JULY AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC
2001

Baghdad

1982
Variation of n/N at Baghdad in a period 1982-2001 1983
1984
1
1985
0.9 1986
1987
0.8
1988
0.7 1989
1990
0.6
1991
n/N

0.5 1992
1993
0.4
1994
0.3 1995
1996
0.2
1997
0.1 1998
1999
0
JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JULY AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC 2000
2001

Al-Rutba

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1982
Veriation of n/N at Nassiria at a period 1982-2001
1983
1984
1
1985
0.9 1986
1987
0.8
1988
0.7 1989
1990
0.6
1991
n/N

0.5 1992
1993
0.4
1994
0.3 1995
1996
0.2
1997
0.1 1998
1999
0
2000
JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JULY AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC
2001

Nassria
Figure 2- Variation of n/N in a period (1982-2001) for three selected cities.

Average of period 1982-2001

1
0.9
0.8
0.7
0.6
n/N

0.5
0.4
0.3
0.2
0.1
0
JUN
JAN

OCT
JULY
MAR

DEC
APR

AUG

NOV
FEB

MAY

SEP

a - Baghdad

Average of period 1982-2001

1
0.9
0.8
0.7
0.6
n/N

0.5
0.4
0.3
0.2
0.1
0
JULY
MAY
JUN

AUG

OCT
NOV
JAN

MAR
APR
FEB

SEP

DEC

b - Al-Rutba

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Mahmood and Al-Hassany Iraqi Journal of Science, 2014, Vol 55, No.4A, pp: 1663-1674

Average of period 1982-2001

0.9
0.8
0.7
0.6
n/N
0.5
0.4
0.3
0.2
0.1
0

JULY
MAY
JUN

AUG

OCT
NOV
JAN

MAR
APR
FEB

SEP

DEC
c - Al-Nassirea
Figure 3 - Average variation of n/N for three selected cities for a period1982-2001

Extraterrestal solar radiation for Baghdad

45

40
(Ho) MJ/m^2/day

35

30

25

20

15

10

0
ly
ay
y

il

e
ry

ch

er
t

r
r
us
ar

pr

be

be
be
Ju
ua

ob
Ju
ar
nu

ug

em

em
em
br

ct
Ja

A
Fe

ov

ec
pt
Se

Extraterrestrial solar radiation for Rutba

45
40
(Ho) MJ/m^2/day

35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
t
y

r
il

ay
ry

r
ry

ch

r
us

be
l

be

be
pr

be
Ju
ua
a

Ju
ar

ug

o
A
nu

em

em
m

ct
br

te
Ja

ov

ec
Fe

ep

D
S

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Mahmood and Al-Hassany Iraqi Journal of Science, 2014, Vol 55, No.4A, pp: 1663-1674

Extraterrestrial radiation for

Nasiriya
45
(Ho) MJ/m^2/day 40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0

t
y

ov er
il

ay
Fe ry

ec er
ry

ch

r
ep us

O r

be
l
pr

be
Ju

ob
ua
a

b
M

Ju
ar

ug
A
nu

em

em
m

ct
br

te
Ja

D
S
Figure 4 - Extraterrestrial Solar radiation for three selected cities at a period 1982-2001

Baghdad global solar radiation at a period 1982-2001

35
30
(H) MJ/m^2/day

25 Hmeas
Hcal1
20
Hcal2
15
Hcalworld
10
Hcal3
5
0
t
y

er
ril

ay
ry

r
ry

ch

r
us

be

be
l
n

be
Ju

ob
Ap
ua
a

Ju
ar

g
nu

m
em
Au

ct
br

ve

ce
Ja

O
Fe

pt

No

De
Se

Al Rutba global solar radiation at a period 1982-2001

35
30
(H)MJ/m^2/day

25 Hmeas

20 Hworld
Hcal1
15
Hcal2
10
Hcal3
5
0
t
y

er
ril

ay
ry

r
ry

ch

r
us

r
l

be

be
n

be
Ju

ob
Ap
ua
a

Ju
ar

g
nu

m
em
Au

ct
br

ve

ce
Ja

O
Fe

pt

No

De
Se

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Nassiria global solar radiation at a period 1982-2001

30
(H)MJ/m^2/day 25
HaveMeas
20
Hcalworld
15 Hcal1
10 Hcal2
Hcal3
5

t
y

er
il

ay
ry

r
ry

ch

r
us

r
l

be

be
pr

be
Ju

ob
ua
a

Ju
ar

ug
A
nu

em

em
m

ct
br

te
Ja

ov

ec
Fe

ep

D
S
Figure 5 - Global Solar radiation for the three cities at a period 1982-2001

Extraterrestrial solar radiation for the three selected Average extraterrestrial solar radiation for the selected
cities at a period 1982-2001
45 three cities at period 1982-2001
40
45
35 40
(Ho) MJ/m^2/day
(Ho)MJ/m^2/day

30 35
25
30
20
25
15
10
20
5 15
0 10
JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JULY AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC
5
Ho(Baghdad) 18.77 23.56 30.1 36.49 40.94 42.82 41.94 38.34 32.39 25.53 19.88 17.35 0
Ho(Rutba) 18.75 23.55 30.09 36.48 40.94 42.82 41.95 38.33 32.38 25.52 19.86 17.33

C
T
N

N
B

G
R

AY

V
P
AR

OC
JU

SE

DE
FE
JA

JU
AP

NO
AU
Ho(Nasireya) 20.01 24.67 30.92 36.88 40.94 42.62 41.85 38.59 33.07 26.56 21.09 18.61
M
M

Measured global solar radiation for three selected cities Average measured global solar radiation for three
30
selected cities
25 30
(Hmeas) MJ/m^2/day

(Hmeas)MJ/m^2/day

20 25
15
20
10
15
5
10
0
JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JULY AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC 5
Hmeas(Bagh) 8.97 12.44 16.63 20.96 24.67 28.38 28.1 25.08 20.63 14.47 9.778 7.837 0
Hmeas(Rutba) 7.393 11.41 14.93 20.81 22.89 26.93 27.49 23.94 19.04 12.99 8.181 6.501 JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JULY AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC
Hmeas(Nasr) 7.694 10.94 13.5 18.54 20.84 22.31 23.06 20.11 17.91 13.1 8.45 6.737

n/N for the three selected cities at a period 1982-2001

1 Average n/N for the three selected cities at a period
0.9
0.8
1982-2001
0.9
0.7
0.6
0.8
0.5 0.7
0.4 0.6
n/N
0.3
0.5
0.2 n/N
0.1
0.4
0 0.3
JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JULY AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC 0.2
0.1
n/N(Bagh) 0.604 0.678 0.674 0.688 0.743 0.86 0.858 0.888 0.85 0.776 0.687 0.615 0
n/N(Rutba) 0.636 0.674 0.687 0.685 0.723 0.872 0.889 0.883 0.867 0.787 0.74 0.635 JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JULY AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC
n/N(Nasr) 0.638 0.68 0.642 0.651 0.672 0.706 0.735 0.769 0.793 0.767 0.69 0.637

Figure 6-The Average extraterrestrial radiation, average n/N and average measured global solar radiation

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Mahmood and Al-Hassany Iraqi Journal of Science, 2014, Vol 55, No.4A, pp: 1663-1674

Average calculated global solar radiation Hworld

Calculated global solar radiation Hworld for three
for the three cities at a period 1982-2001
selected cities at a period 1982-2001 30
(Hworldl)MJ/m^2/day 35

(Hword)MJ/m^2/day
30 25
Hworld(Bagh)
25 20
Hworld(Rutba)
20
15
15 Hworld(Nasrya
10
10 )
5 5

0 0
JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JULY AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JULY AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

Calculated global solar radiation Hcal1 for three Average calculated global solar radiation Hcal1 for
selected cities at a period 1982-2001 three selected cities at period 1982-2001
35
(Hcal1) MJ/m^2/day

35

(Hcal1)MJ/m^2/day
30 30
25 25
20 Hcal1(Bagh) 20
15 15
Hcal1(Rutba)
10 10
5 Hcal1(Nasrey 5
0 a) 0
JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JULY AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JULY AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

Calculated global solar radiation Hcal2 for three Average calculated global solar radiation Hcal2
selected cities at a period 1982-2001 for three selected cities at a period 1982-2001
35 35
(Hcal2)MJ/m^2/day

(Hcal2)MJ/m^2/day

30 30

25 25

20 20
Hcal2(Bagh)
15 Hcal2(Rutba) 15

10 Hcal2(Nasr) 10

5 5

0 0
JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JULY AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JULY AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

Calculated global solar radiation Hcal3 for Average calculated global solar radiation Hcal3
three selected cities at period 1982-2001 for three selected cities at a period 1982-2001
35 30
(Hcal3)MJ/m^2/day
(Hcal3)MJ/m^2/day

30 25
25 Hcal3(Bagh)
20
20 Hcal3(Rutba)
15
15 Hcal3(Nasr)
10
10
5 5

0 0
JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JULY AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JULY AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

Figure 7 - Calculated global solar radiation and average for three selected cities.

Conclusion:
Our study shows that, it is possible to obtain the extraterrestrial solar radiation, global solar
radiation by means of a model that has been depended on local atmospheric condition and
geographical parameter (i.e. latitude), these models (FAO, Rietveld, Glover and Tiwari - Sangeeta)
can be used in all selected locations in Iraq. These models have been developed taking into account the
experimental data from the meteorological data, theoretical calculated upon the atmosphere
conditions. These models provide a good estimation for H for all on the horizontal surface and can be
said the model performs well. The estimation provided by the model can be used for the estimation of
energy balance in technological applications.
The calculated solar radiation showed that the maximum values Ho and H for the selected locations
in June and July, while the minimum in January and December.

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Mahmood and Al-Hassany Iraqi Journal of Science, 2014, Vol 55, No.4A, pp: 1663-1674

The two types of global solar radiations at all locations are high solar radiation values with long
duration sunshine hours and less cloudy skies, and the low solar radiation values with least sunshine
hours. The maximum values sunshine duration in all locations in June, July and August (i.e. 12.3,
12.4 and 11.8 hours) respectively and the least in January and December (i.e. 3.9 and 4.9 hours)
respectively.
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