Interdisciplinary applications of a versatile spectral solar irradiance model: A review

A detailed review of different applications that have already been investigated with SMARTS, a versatile spectral solar irradiance model, is proposed here. This review provides examples of applications in many different disciplines, for which recent developments are discussed. Three main types of applications are considered, depending on their spectral range. Purely spectral applications encompass the determination of atmospheric constituents, the performance testing of spectroradiometers, and the improvement and validation of reference spectra for the rating of photovoltaic or glazing systems, or for new standards development in the field of weathering and material degradation. Narrow-band applications include the determination of different UV fluxes and of the UV index, and the prediction of illuminance on any horizontal or tilted surface, of the luminous efficacy of direct, diffuse or global radiation, of the photo-synthetically active radiation, and of the irradiance transmitted by different bandpass filters. Finally, some specific broadband applications are reviewed: mesoscale predictions of radiation fluxes, evaluation of circumsolar effects in pyrheliometers, performance assessment of broadband radiation models, and turbidity determination from broadband irradiance data. (c) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.