Abstract
Solar radiation is often shielded by terrain relief, especially in mountainous areas, before reaching the surface of the Earth. The objective of this paper is to study the spatial structures of the shielded astronomical solar radiation (SASR) and the possible sunshine duration (PSD) over the Loess Plateau. To this end, we chose six test areas representing different landforms over the Loess Plateau and the software package of Matlab was used as the main computing platform. In each test area, 5-m-resolution digital elevation model established from 1:10,000 scale topographic maps was used to compute the corresponding slope, SASR and PSD. Then, we defined the concepts of the slope-mean SASR spectrum and the slope-mean PSD spectrum, and proposed a method to extract them from the computed slope, SASR and PSD over rectangular analysis windows. Using this method, we found both spectrums in a year or in a season for each of the four seasons in the six test areas. Each spectrum was found only when the area of the corresponding rectangular analysis window was greater than the corresponding stable area of the spectrum. The values of the two spectrums decreased when the slope increased. Furthermore, the values of the stable areas of the spectrums in a year or in a season were positively correlated with the variable coefficients of the slope or the profile curvature. The values of the stable areas of the two spectrums in a year or in a season may represent the minimum value of test areas for corresponding future research on the spatial structures of the SASR or PSD. All the findings herein suggest that the spatial structures of the PSD and the SASR are caused by the interactions between solar radiation and terrain relief and that the method for extracting either spectrum is effective for detecting their spatial structures. This study may deepen our understanding of the spatial structure of solar radiation and help us further explore the distribution of solar energy in mountainous regions.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Ambreen R, Ahmad I, Qiu XF, et al. (2015a) Regional and monthly assessment of extraterrestrial solar radiations in pakistan. Journal of Geographic Information System 7(1): 58–64. https://doi.org/10.4236/jgis.2015.71005
Ambreen R, Ahmad I, Qiu XF, et al. (2015b) Regional and monthly assessment of possible sunshine duration in pakistan: A geographical approach. Journal of Geographic Information System 7(1): 65–70. https://doi.org/10.4236/jgis.2015.71006
Ambreen R, Qiu XF, Ahmad I (2011) Distributed modeling of extraterrestrial solar radiation over the rugged terrains of pakistan. Journal of Mountain Science 8(3): 427–436. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11629-011-2004-z
Bocquet G (2010) Method of study and cartography of the potential sunny periods in mountainous areas. International Journal of Climatology 4(6): 587–596. https://doi.org/10.1002/joc.3370040603
Chen ZQ, Chen JF (2010) The simulation of extraterrestrial solar radiation based on soter in zhangpu sample plot and fujian province. Journal of Computers 5(1): 551–554. https://doi.org/10.4304/jcp.5.1.144-149
Davis WM (1899) The geographical cycle. The Geographical Journal 14: 481–504. https://doi.org/10.2307/1774538
Dozier J, Frew J (1990) Rapid calculation of terrain parameters for radiation modeling from digital elevation data. IEEE Transactions on Geoscience & Remote Sensing 28(5): 963–969. https://doi.org/10.1109/36.58986
Huang RB, Huang WF, Chen MR, et al. (1986) Meteorology and climatology. Beijing, China, Higher Education Press. pp 32, 36 and 37 (in Chinese).
Li X, Cheng GD, Chen XZ, et al. (1999) Modification of solar radiation model over rugged terrain. Science Bulletin 44(15): 1345–1350. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02885977
Li ZQ, Weng DM (1988) A computer model for calculating the duration of sunshine in mountainous areas. Science Bulletin 33(19): 1624–1627. https://doi.org/
Lurwan SM, Mariun N, Hizam H, et al. (2016) Estimation of solar radiation from digital elevation model in area of rough topography. World Journal of Engineering 13(5): 453–460. https://doi.org/10.1108/WJE-08-2016-0063
Mohammadi K, Shamshirband S, Anisi MH, et al. (2015) Support vector regression based prediction of global solar radiation on a horizontal surface. Energy Conversion & Management 91: 433–441. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enconman.2014.12.015
Nettesheim CF, Conto DT, Pereira MG, et al. (2015) Contribution of topography and incident solar radiation to variation of soil and plant litter at an area with heterogeneous terrain. Revista Brasileira De Ciência Do Solo 39(3): 750–762. https://doi.org/10.1590/01000683rbcs20140459
Park JK, Das A, Park JH (2015) A new approach to estimate the spatial distribution of solar radiation using topographic factor and sunshine duration in south korea. Energy Conversion & Management 101: 30–39. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enconman.2015.04.021
Qiu XF, Zeng Y, Liu SM (2005) Distributed modeling of extraterrestrial solar radiation over rugged terrain. Chinese Journal of Geophysics 48(5): 1028–1033. https://doi.org/10.1002/cjg2.753
Rawat MS, Uniyal DP, Dobhal R, et al. (2015) Study of landslide hazard zonation in mandakini valley, rudraprayag district, uttarakhand using remote sensing and gis. Current Science 109(1): 158–170.
Reuter HI, Kersebaum KC, Wendroth O (2005) Modelling of solar radiation influenced by topographic shading—evaluation and application for precision farming. Physics & Chemistry of the Earth Parts A/b/c 30(1): 143–149. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pce.2004.08.027
Sypka P, Starzak R, Owsiak K (2016) Methodology to estimate variations in solar radiation reaching densely forested slopes in mountainous terrain. International Journal of Biometeorology 60(12): 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00484-016-1185-0
Tang GA, Gong JY, Cheng ZJ, et al. (2001) A simulation on the accuracy of dem terrain representation. Acta Geodaetica Et Cartographic Sinica 30(4): 361–365. (in Chinese) https://doi.org/10.3321/j.issn:1001-1595.2001.04.016
Tang GA, Li FY, Liu XJ, et al. (2008) Research on the slope spectrum of the loess plateau. Science in China Series E: Technological Sciences 51(s1): 175–185. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11431-008-5002-9
Tang GA, Liu XJ, Lv GN (2005) Digital elevation model and the theory and methods of geoanalysis. Beijing, science press. pp 340–341. (In Chinese).
Tang GA, Song XD, Li FY, et al. (2015) Slope spectrum critical area and its spatial variation in the loess plateau of china. Journal of Geographical Science 25(12): 1452–1466. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11442-015-1245-0
Tobler WR (1970) A computer movie simulating urban growth in the detroit region. Economic Geography 46(sup1): 234–240. https://doi.org/10.2307/143141
Tovarpescador J, Pozovázquez D, Ruizarias JA, et al. (2010) On the use of the digital elevation model to estimate the solar radiation in areas of complex topography. Meteorological Applications 13(3): 279–287. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1350482706002258
Tsekouras G, Koutsoyiannis D (2014) Stochastic analysis and simulation of hydrometeorological processes associated with wind and solar energy. Renewable Energy 63(1): 624–633. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2013.10.018
Wang L, Qiu XF, Wang P, et al. (2014) Influence of complex topography on global solar radiation in the yangtze river basin. Journal of Geographical Sciences 24(6): 980–992. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11442-014-1132-0
Wild M, Gilgen H, Roesch A, et al. (2005) From dimming to brightening: Decadal changes in solar radiation at earth’s surface. Science 308(5723): 847–850. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1103215
Wilson J, Gallant J (2000) Terrain analysis: Principles and applications. New york, U.S.A., John Wiley & Sons, Inc. p 56.
Zeng Y, Qiu XF, Liu CM, et al. (2005) Distributed modeling of direct solar radiation on rugged terrain of the yellow river basin. Journal of Geographical Science 15(4): 680–688. https://doi.org/10.1360/gs050407
Zeng Y, Qiu XF, Miao QL, et al. (2003) Distribution of possible sunshine durations over rugged terrains of china. Progress in Natural Science: Materials International 13(10): 761–764. https://doi.org/10.1080/10020070312331344380
Zhang HL, Liu GH, Huang C (2010) Modeling all-sky global solar radiation using modis atmospheric products: A case study in qinghai-tibet plateau. Chinese Geographical Science 20(6): 513–521. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11769-010-0423-3
Zhang JY, Zhao L, Deng S, et al. (2017) A critical review of the models used to estimate solar radiation. Renewable & Sustainable Energy Reviews 70: 314–329. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2016.11.124
Zhang SH, Li XG, Chen YN (2015) Error assessment of grid-based direct solar radiation models. International Journal of Geographical Information Science 29(10): 1–25. https://doi.org/10.1080/13658816.2015.1055273
Zhang YL, Li X, Bai YL (2015) An integrated approach to estimate shortwave solar radiation on clear-sky days in rugged terrain using modis atmospheric products. Solar Energy 113: 347–357. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2014.12.028
Zhou Y, Tang GA, Yang X, et al. (2010) Positive and negative terrains on northern shaanxi loess plateau. Journal of Geographical Sciences 20(1): 64–76. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11442-010-0064-6
Zhu HC, Huang W, Liu HY (2018a) Loess terrain segmentation from digital elevation models based on the region growth method. Physical Geography 39(1): 51–66. https://doi.org/10.1080/02723646.2017.1342215
Zhu HC, Tang GA, Qian KJ, et al. (2014) Extraction and analysis of gully head of loess plateau in china based on digital elevation model. Chinese Geographical Science 24(9): 328–338. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11769-014-0663-8
Zhu HC, Zhao YP, Liu HY (2018b) Scale characters analysis for gully structure in the watersheds of loess landforms based on digital elevation models. Frontiers of Earth Science 12(2): 431–433. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11707-018-0696-x
Zuo DK, Zhou YH, Xiang YQ, et al. (1991) Studies on radiation in the epigeosphere. Beijing, China, Science Press. p 68 (in Chinese).
Acknowledgements
This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 41771423, 41930102, 41601408 and 41491339) and by the industry-university-research cooperation project for the social development of Fujian province, China (grant number 2018Y0054). The authors are grateful to the anonymous reviewers for their constructive comments; the author also expresses sincere thanks to his students, ZHOU Wen-zhen, LI Huan-ge, LI Quan-jin and LIN Ting-min for retouching the figures.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Electronic supplementary material
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Chen, N. Deriving the slope-mean shielded astronomical solar radiation spectrum and slope-mean possible sunshine duration spectrum over the Loess Plateau. J. Mt. Sci. 17, 133–146 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11629-018-5246-1
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11629-018-5246-1