Regional and Monthly Assessment of Possible Sunshine Duration in Pakistan: A Geographical Approach
Affiliation(s)
1 Department of Geography, University of Balochistan, Quetta, Pakistan. 2 Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Nanjing, China.
1 Department of Geography, University of Balochistan, Quetta, Pakistan. 2 Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Nanjing, China.
ABSTRACT
The monthly possible sunshine hours have been simulated separately for all the months of the year with the help of ArcGIS. The results are evident that the geography of the area plays a pivotal role in giving shape to spatial distribution of monthly possible sunshine duration (PSD). The landforms distributions and latitudinal extent are the major geographical factors behind the spatial-temporal distribution of monthly PSD. Maps of all the months depict different sunshine hours that vary from region to region in Pakistan. The maximum difference in PSD was noticed between lofty mountains in the north and Indus Plains. In addition, the variation is phenomenal from January to August and vice versa. This sort of study based on spatial modeling is significant in Pakistan where we lack appropriate ground observed data of PSD.
The monthly possible sunshine hours have been simulated separately for all the months of the year with the help of ArcGIS. The results are evident that the geography of the area plays a pivotal role in giving shape to spatial distribution of monthly possible sunshine duration (PSD). The landforms distributions and latitudinal extent are the major geographical factors behind the spatial-temporal distribution of monthly PSD. Maps of all the months depict different sunshine hours that vary from region to region in Pakistan. The maximum difference in PSD was noticed between lofty mountains in the north and Indus Plains. In addition, the variation is phenomenal from January to August and vice versa. This sort of study based on spatial modeling is significant in Pakistan where we lack appropriate ground observed data of PSD.
Cite this paper
Ambreen, R. , Ahmad, I. , Qiu, X. and Li, M. (2015) Regional and Monthly Assessment of Possible Sunshine Duration in Pakistan: A Geographical Approach. Journal of Geographic Information System, 7, 65-70. doi: 10.4236/jgis.2015.71006.
Ambreen, R. , Ahmad, I. , Qiu, X. and Li, M. (2015) Regional and Monthly Assessment of Possible Sunshine Duration in Pakistan: A Geographical Approach. Journal of Geographic Information System, 7, 65-70. doi: 10.4236/jgis.2015.71006.
References
[1] Li, Z.Q. and Weng, D.M. (1988) A Computer Model for Calculating the Duration of Sunshine in Mountainous Areas. Chinese Science Bulletin, 33, 1624-1626. [2] Li, X., Cheng, G.D., Chen, X.Z. and Lu, L. (1999) Modification of Solar Radiation Model over Rugged Terrain. Chinese Science Bulletin, 44, 1345-1349. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF02885977 [3] Weng, D.M., et al. (1981) Microclimate and Its Applications to Farmland. Agriculture Press, Beijing, 116. (In Chinese) [4] Qiu, X.F., Zeng, Y. and Liu, S.M. (2005) Distributed Modeling of Extraterrestrial Solar Radiation over Rugged Terrain. Chinese Journal of Geophysics, 48, 1100-1107. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/cjg2.753 [5] Qiu, X.F., Zeng, Y., Liu, C. and Wu, X. (2004) Simulation of Astronomical Solar Radiation over Yellow River Basin Based on DEM on Rugged Terrain of the Yellow River Basin. Journal of Geographical Sciences, 14, 63-69. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF02873092 [6] Essery, R. (2004) Statistical Representation of Mountain Shading. Hydrology and Earth System Sciences, 8, 1045-1050. [7] Kumar, L., Skidmore, A.K. and Knowles, E. (1997) Modeling Topographic Variation in Solar Radiation in a GIS Environment. International Journal for Geographical Information Science, 11, 475-497.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/136588197242266 [8] Li, Z.Q. and Weng, D.M. (1988) The Distribution and the Computing Model of the Diffuse Radiation on Slopes. Acta Mctcorologica Sinica, 46, 349. (In Chinese) [9] Wilson, J.P. (2012) Digital Terrain Modeling. Geomorphology, 137, 107-121.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2011.03.012 [10] Zeng, Y., Qiu, X.F., Liu, C. and Jiang, A. (2005) Distributed Modeling of Direct Solar Radiation on Rugged Terrain of the Yellow River Basin. Journal of Geographical Sciences, 15, 439-447.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1360/gs050407 [11] Dozier, J. and Frew, J. (1990) Rapid Calculation of Terrain Parameters for Radiation Modeling from Digital Elevation Data. IEEE Transactions on Geoscience and Remote Sensing, 28, 963-969.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1109/36.58986 [12] Dozier, J. and Qutcalt, S.I. (1979) An Approach toward Energy Balance Simulation over Rugged Terrain. Geographical Analysis, 11, 65-85. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1538-4632.1979.tb00673.x [13] Pons, X. and Ninyerola, M. (2008) Mapping a Topographic Global Solar Radiation Model Implemented in a GIS and Refined with Ground Data. International Journal of Climatology, 28, 1821-1834.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/joc.1676 [14] Ambreen, R., Qiu, X.F. and Ahmad, I. (2011) Distributed Modeling of Extraterrestrial Solar Radiation over the Rugged Terrains of Pakistan. Journal of Mountain Science, 8, 427-436.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11629-011-2004-z [15] Stefanovic, P. and Wiersema, G. (1985) Insolation from Digital Elevation Models for Mountain Habitat Evaluation. ITC Journal, 3, 177-186. [16] Rich, P.M., Hetrick, W.A. and Saving, S.C. (1995) Modeling Topographic Influences on Solar Radiation: A Manual for the SOLARFLUX Model. Los Alamos National Laboratory Report LA-12989-M, Los Alamos. [17] Zeng, Y., Qiu, X.F., Miao, Q.L. and Liu, C.M. (2003) Distribution of Possible Sunshine Durations over Rugged Terrains of China. Progress in Natural Science, 13, 761-764.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10020070312331344380
[1] Li, Z.Q. and Weng, D.M. (1988) A Computer Model for Calculating the Duration of Sunshine in Mountainous Areas. Chinese Science Bulletin, 33, 1624-1626. [2] Li, X., Cheng, G.D., Chen, X.Z. and Lu, L. (1999) Modification of Solar Radiation Model over Rugged Terrain. Chinese Science Bulletin, 44, 1345-1349. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF02885977 [3] Weng, D.M., et al. (1981) Microclimate and Its Applications to Farmland. Agriculture Press, Beijing, 116. (In Chinese) [4] Qiu, X.F., Zeng, Y. and Liu, S.M. (2005) Distributed Modeling of Extraterrestrial Solar Radiation over Rugged Terrain. Chinese Journal of Geophysics, 48, 1100-1107. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/cjg2.753 [5] Qiu, X.F., Zeng, Y., Liu, C. and Wu, X. (2004) Simulation of Astronomical Solar Radiation over Yellow River Basin Based on DEM on Rugged Terrain of the Yellow River Basin. Journal of Geographical Sciences, 14, 63-69. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF02873092 [6] Essery, R. (2004) Statistical Representation of Mountain Shading. Hydrology and Earth System Sciences, 8, 1045-1050. [7] Kumar, L., Skidmore, A.K. and Knowles, E. (1997) Modeling Topographic Variation in Solar Radiation in a GIS Environment. International Journal for Geographical Information Science, 11, 475-497.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/136588197242266 [8] Li, Z.Q. and Weng, D.M. (1988) The Distribution and the Computing Model of the Diffuse Radiation on Slopes. Acta Mctcorologica Sinica, 46, 349. (In Chinese) [9] Wilson, J.P. (2012) Digital Terrain Modeling. Geomorphology, 137, 107-121.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2011.03.012 [10] Zeng, Y., Qiu, X.F., Liu, C. and Jiang, A. (2005) Distributed Modeling of Direct Solar Radiation on Rugged Terrain of the Yellow River Basin. Journal of Geographical Sciences, 15, 439-447.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1360/gs050407 [11] Dozier, J. and Frew, J. (1990) Rapid Calculation of Terrain Parameters for Radiation Modeling from Digital Elevation Data. IEEE Transactions on Geoscience and Remote Sensing, 28, 963-969.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1109/36.58986 [12] Dozier, J. and Qutcalt, S.I. (1979) An Approach toward Energy Balance Simulation over Rugged Terrain. Geographical Analysis, 11, 65-85. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1538-4632.1979.tb00673.x [13] Pons, X. and Ninyerola, M. (2008) Mapping a Topographic Global Solar Radiation Model Implemented in a GIS and Refined with Ground Data. International Journal of Climatology, 28, 1821-1834.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/joc.1676 [14] Ambreen, R., Qiu, X.F. and Ahmad, I. (2011) Distributed Modeling of Extraterrestrial Solar Radiation over the Rugged Terrains of Pakistan. Journal of Mountain Science, 8, 427-436.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11629-011-2004-z [15] Stefanovic, P. and Wiersema, G. (1985) Insolation from Digital Elevation Models for Mountain Habitat Evaluation. ITC Journal, 3, 177-186. [16] Rich, P.M., Hetrick, W.A. and Saving, S.C. (1995) Modeling Topographic Influences on Solar Radiation: A Manual for the SOLARFLUX Model. Los Alamos National Laboratory Report LA-12989-M, Los Alamos. [17] Zeng, Y., Qiu, X.F., Miao, Q.L. and Liu, C.M. (2003) Distribution of Possible Sunshine Durations over Rugged Terrains of China. Progress in Natural Science, 13, 761-764.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10020070312331344380