Estimation of global solar radiation from sunshine hours for Warri, Nigeria

Multiple linear regression models were developed to estimate the monthly daily sunshine hours using four parameters during a period of eleven years (1997 to 2007) for Warri, Nigeria (Latitude of 5o 34’ 21.0’’); the parameters include, Relative Humidity, Maximum and Minimum Temperature, Rainfall and Wind Speed. The result of the correlations showed that four Variable correlations with the highest value of correlation coefficient R gives the best result when considering the error term Root Mean Square Error (RMSE). The correlation is given as S = - 22.424 + 0.272RH + 1.388T – 9.791RF – 0.623W Where RH is the Relative Humidity, T is the difference of the Maximum and Minimum Temperature, RF is the average rainfall and W is the Wind Speed. The developed correlation can be used for estimating Sunshine hours for Warri and other locations with similar climatic conditions.