Standard Tables for Reference Solar Spectral Irradiances: Direct Normal and Hemispherical on 37° Tilted Surface

SCOPE
1.1 These tables contain terrestrial solar spectral irradiance distributions for use in terrestrial applications that require a standard reference spectral irradiance for hemispherical solar irradiance (consisting of both direct and diffuse components) incident on a sun-facing, 37° tilted surface or the direct normal spectral irradiance. The data contained in these tables reflect reference spectra with uniform wavelength interval (0.5 nanometer (nm) below 400 nm, 1 nm between 400 and 1700 nm, an intermediate wavelength at 1702 nm, and 5 nm intervals from 1705 to 4000 nm). The data tables represent reasonable cloudless atmospheric conditions favorable for photovoltaic (PV) energy production, as well as weathering and durability exposure applications.
1.2 The 37 slope of the sun-facing tilted surface was chosen to represent the average latitude of the 48 contiguous United States. A wide variety of orientations is possible for exposed surfaces. The availability of the SMARTS model (as an adjunct to this standard) used to generate the standard spectra allows users to evaluate differences relative to the surface specified here.
1.3 The air mass and atmospheric extinction parameters are chosen to provide (1) historical continuity with respect to previous standard spectra, (2) reasonable cloudless atmospheric conditions favorable for photovoltaic (PV) energy production or weathering and durability exposure, based upon modern broadband solar radiation data, atmospheric profiles, and improved knowledge of aerosol optical depth profiles. In nature, an extremely large range of atmospheric conditions can be encountered even under cloudless skies. Considerable departure from the reference spectra may be observed depending on time of day, geographical location, and changing atmospheric conditions. The availability of the SMARTS model (as an adjunct to this standard) used to generate the standard spectra allows users to evaluate spectral differences relative to the spectra specified here.

General Information

Status
Historical
Publication Date
09-Jan-2003
Drafting Committee
Current Stage
Ref Project

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ASTM G173-03 - Standard Tables for Reference Solar Spectral Irradiances: Direct Normal and Hemispherical on 37° Tilted Surface
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Standards Content (Sample)

Designation: G 173 – 03
Standard Tables for
Reference Solar Spectral Irradiances: Direct Normal and
1
Hemispherical on 37° Tilted Surface
This standard is issued under the fixed designation G 173; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
INTRODUCTION
A wide variety of solar spectral energy distributions occur in the natural environment and are
simulated by artificial sources during product, material, or component testing. To compare the relative
optical performance of spectrally sensitive products a reference standard solar spectral distribution is
required. These tables replace ASTM standard G 159, which has been withdrawn. The solar spectral
energy distribution presented in this standard are not intended as a benchmark for ultraviolet radiation
in weathering exposure testing of materials. The spectra are based on version 2.9.2 of the Simple
Model of the Atmospheric Radiative Transfer of Sunshine (SMARTS) atmospheric transmission code
2
(1,2). SMARTS uses empirical parameterizations of version 4.0 of the Air Force Geophysical
Laboratory (AFGL) Moderate Resolution Transmission model, MODTRAN (3,4) for some gaseous
absorption processes, and recent spectroscopic data for others. An extraterrestrial spectrum differing
only slightly from the extraterrestrial spectrum in ASTM E 490 is used to calculate the resultant
spectra (5). The hemispherical tilted spectrum is similar to the hemispherical spectrum in use since
1987, but differs from it because: (1) the wavelength range for the current spectrum has been extended
deeper into the ultraviolet; (2) uniform wavelength intervals are now used; (3) more representative
atmospheric conditions are represented,; and (4) SMARTS Version 2.9.2 has been used as the
generating model. For the same reasons, and particularly the adoption of a remarkably less turbid
atmosphere than before, significant differences exist in the reference direct normal spectrum compared
to previous versions of this standard. The input parameters used in conjunction with SMARTS for the
selected atmospheric conditions are tabulated. The SMARTS model and documentation are available
as an adjunct to this standard.
1. Scope 1.2 The 37° slope of the sun-facing tilted surface was
chosen to represent the average latitude of the 48 contiguous
1.1 These tables contain terrestrial solar spectral irradiance
United States. A wide variety of orientations is possible for
distributions for use in terrestrial applications that require a
exposed surfaces. The availability of the SMARTS model (as
standard reference spectral irradiance for hemispherical solar
an adjunct to this standard) used to generate the standard
irradiance (consisting of both direct and diffuse components)
spectra allows users to evaluate differences relative to the
incident on a sun-facing, 37° tilted surface or the direct normal
surface specified here.
spectral irradiance. The data contained in these tables reflect
1.3 The air mass and atmospheric extinction parameters are
reference spectra with uniform wavelength interval (0.5 na-
chosen to provide (1) historical continuity with respect to
nometer (nm) below 400 nm, 1 nm between 400 and 1700 nm,
previous standard spectra, (2) reasonable cloudless atmo-
an intermediate wavelength at 1702 nm, and 5 nm intervals
spheric conditions favorable for photovoltaic (PV) energy
from 1705 to 4000 nm). The data tables represent reasonable
production or weathering and durability exposure, based upon
cloudless atmospheric conditions favorable for photovoltaic
modern broadband solar radiation data, atmospheric profiles,
(PV) energy production, as well as weathering and durability
and improved knowledge of aerosol optical depth profiles. In
exposure applications.
nature, an extremely large range of atmospheric conditions can
be encountered even under cloudless skies. Considerable
1
These tables are under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee G03 on Weathering
departure from the reference spectra may be observed depend-
and Durability and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee G03.09 on
ing on time of day, geographical location, and changing
Radiometry.
atmospheric conditions. The availability of the SMARTS
Current edition approved Jan. 10, 2003. Published April 2003.
2
The boldface numbers in parentheses refer to the list of references at the end of
model (as an adjunct to this standard) used to generate the
this standard.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
1

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G173–03
standard spectra allows users to evaluate spectral differences mal irradiance. The adjective global should refer only to
relative to the spectra specified h
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