Distribution of solar irradiance on inclined surfaces caused by moving clouds

The distribution of solar irradiance in shadows of discrete (broken) clouds differs from the distribution calculated for inclined surfaces on the basis of traditional transposition models and changes fast. This phenomenon is studied in this paper. For calculations of dynamic distributions of irradiance on inclined surfaces, a formal point source of direct radiation near the real position of the sun is defined as the source of the “imaginable radiation.” This notion is used to create a one-dimensional (1D) simulation model, which allows the fast-changing distribution of irradiance to be calculated. In general, the coincidence of calculated and measured irradiance on inclined surfaces is good. The paper also shows how the current value of the diffuse component of solar radiation can be derived from measurements of total radiation in four differently tilted planes.