The HelioClim databases

Last updated - Dernière modification 21/11/08 Mines ParisTech - Armines

The HelioClim-3 Database - Solar Radiation Values Derived from Meteosat Satellites by the Heliosat-2 Method

The major paper on HelioClim-3 is the following: Rigollier C., Lefèvre M., Wald L., 2004. The method Heliosat-2 for deriving shortwave solar radiation data from satellite images. Solar Energy, 77(2), 159-169. See publications

Parameters - Geographical Coverage Time Period - Units		Versions - Roadmap		Methods Global, direct, diffuse radiation Horizontal, inclined, normal planes
Validation - Uncertainty		Acknowledgements		FAQ

Parameters provided: time-series of global irradiation or irradiance

time-series of radiation values: from minute values to monthly values. Values are irradiance in W/m² as well as irradiation in Wh/m² and J/cm².
irradiance at top of atmosphere
irradiance under clear-sky
uncertainty values
information on the number of data used to compute the radiation value

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Geographical Coverage: field of view of Meteosat satellite

Approximately: 66 N - 66 S ; 66 E - 66 W. The field of view is restricted to the pixels belonging to the Earth and for which the elevation angle of Meteosat above horizon is larger than 12 degrees.

Clik on picture for magnification (copyright Eumetsat)

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Time Period

From February 2004 onwards. Satellite data are received at Ecole des Mines de Paris by the means of a receiving station and are processed immediately. They are available in the evening after end of acquisition. For legal reasons, they are disseminated only 24 hours after they have been disseminated by Eumetsat.

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Units: Wh/m², J/cm², W/m² (conversion factors)

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