| A physically-based numerical model has been developed to estimate the receipt of solar radiation for high-altitude, rugged terrain. Previously, similar models have been developed and tested for locations with surface elevations well below 1000 m, and their usefulness has not before been shown for higher elevations. The model was employed to estimate the daily receipt of solar radiation on a horizontal surface for three high-altitude stations: Albuquerque, NM; El Paso, TX; and Great Falls, MT. The results of this simulation indicate that, for both clear and cloudy conditions, the model produced results as accurate as those which have been obtained using a similar algorithm for low-altitude locations.;The use of the model for non-horizontal terrain was demonstrated using several idealized surfaces including a valley with a north-south axis and a bowl-shaped depression. In addition, the model was applied to Chitistone Pass, Alaska, an actual surface in rugged terrain. The results showed that, for both horizontal and tilted surfaces, estimates within 10 percent of the measured daily global radiation values can be expected. This represents a great improvement over results from simpler models which do not include the effects of surrounding terrain. |
