The Boeing Company
Systems and methods for simulating time phased solar irradiance plots

Abstract:

A method for calculating solar irradiance over a predetermined time period for a geographical area including a plurality of geographical points is described. The method is implemented by a computing device coupled to a weather database. The method includes receiving a first identifier corresponding to a beginning of the predetermined time period and a second identifier corresponding to an ending of the predetermined time period, receiving weather data from the weather database, generating a model of diffuse light and atmosphere attenuation, based at least on the first identifier, the second identifier, and the weather data, determining solar parameters, and determining an amount of solar irradiance for each geographical point for each of a plurality of time intervals within the predetermined time period, based at least on the model and the solar parameters.