Estimation of the solar radiation based on air temperature in tunisia

This article focuses on the estimation of the solar global daily radiation using the values of the air temperature. The reason for choosing this environmental parameter is that the data of the air temperature are available worldwide and are easy to be recorded from the local meteorological station. Specified models were developed to estimate the global solar radiation data in considered cities in Tunisia, North Africa. A site‐independent model was proposed to estimate the solar radiation using only the minimum and the maximum daily air temperature. By using five statistical indicators, the proposed models were assessed in order to present the best model for each region in Tunisia. Acceptable values of the indicators were recorded. The presented statistical test is based on recorded data from meteorological stations implemented in Tunis, Kairouan, Sfax, Gabes, and Kebili. The choice of the five selected cities is based on the availability of the metrological measurements. The assessment of the potential of the solar energy in the considered cities was presented. Zoning the assessment of the solar radiation would give a better understanding of the distribution of solar radiation and an overview of the general solar radiation climatic conditions within Tunisia. © 2018 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Environ Prog, 38: 600–607, 2019