On the use of sunshine based models to estimate global solar radiation in hebron city, palestine

In this study, the daily sunshine duration is used to estimate average global solar radiation for Hebron city, Palestine. The daily sunshine data were measured for four years (2007 to 2010) from which the monthly mean values were determined. In this work, several equations were employed to estimate global solar radiation from sunshine hours. These equations included the original Angstrom-Prescott linear regression and modified functions (quadratic, logarithmic and exponential functions). Estimated values were compared with measured values in terms of the coefficient of determination (R2), root mean square error (RMSE) and mean absolute percentage error (MAPE). The four models fitted the data adequately and can be used to estimate global solar radiation from sunshine hours. This study finds that the linear models performed better than the other models and it is preferred due its greater simplicity and wider application. CopyrightWe would like to acknowledge the Palestinian meteorological stations network office for their kindly help in providing the data