Decision support tools for agriculture often require meteorological data as inputs, but data availability and quality are often problematic. Difficulties arise with daily solar radiation (SRAD) because the instruments require electronic integrators, accurate sensors are expensive, and calibration standards are seldom available. NASA’s Prediction of Worldwide Energy Resources (NASA/
POWER; power.larc.nasa.gov) project estimates SRAD based on satellite observations and atmospheric parameters obtained from
satellite observations and assimilation models. These data are available for a global 1° × 1° coordinate grid. The SRAD can also be
generated from atmospheric attenuation of extraterrestrial radiation. Read More
