2023 model release notes

Release date	Release
27.6.2023	Solargis Prospect update Solargis Prospect update: data for Scandinavia, model improvements, new precipitation data source.
13.6.2023	Prospect 2022 data update Now data in Prospect is updated including the year 2022. Prospect coverage extension Prospect is extended for the Scandinavia region up to 65°N.
17.4.2023	Nowcast in GOES region: faster and more frequent updates We have improved the frequency of our service for sites in GOES satellite regions (Americas and Pacific), delivering new data predictions every 10 minutes. Before, we were only delivering updates every 30 minutes. With the new data infrastructure, we were also able to significantly shorten the delay and the forecast service is now faster. Nowcasts now available for South America and Pacific islands We have extended our nowcast model in the GOES satellite region and from now users of Solargis Forecast service can receive updates for any site in North and South America and Pacific islands. A new nowcasting algorithm was used for these regions which, among other upgrades, improves cloud motion extrapolation and provides nowcasts with reduced uncertainty. Data model improvements in GOES region After several model improvements across our data calculator chain, the accuracy of historical time series for the GOES region (covering Americas and Pacific islands) has been improved. The main changes are: Use of the highest granularity data available as an input from satellite instruments (up to 10-minute frequency) from year 2019 onwards Use of advanced preprocessing algorithms, removing spatial noise and achieving smoother pixel transitions Additional terrain corrections, related to better positional accuracy, especially in mountainous regions and high satellite viewing angles Improvements in cloud/snow discrimination and cloud index post-processing More accurate calculations of sun position Inclusion of solar irradiance changes due to solar eclipse events. Due to this series of improvements, small variations in data values are expected under this new model, in comparison to the Solargis older models used in climData deliveries. Updated bias and RMSD statistics are published in our interactive maps here.

Release date

Release

27.6.2023

Solargis Prospect update

Solargis Prospect update: data for Scandinavia, model improvements, new precipitation data source.

13.6.2023

Prospect 2022 data update

Now data in Prospect is updated including the year 2022.

Prospect coverage extension

Prospect is extended for the Scandinavia region up to 65°N.

17.4.2023

Nowcast in GOES region: faster and more frequent updates

We have improved the frequency of our service for sites in GOES satellite regions (Americas and Pacific), delivering new data predictions every 10 minutes. Before, we were only delivering updates every 30 minutes. With the new data infrastructure, we were also able to significantly shorten the delay and the forecast service is now faster.

Nowcasts now available for South America and Pacific islands

We have extended our nowcast model in the GOES satellite region and from now users of Solargis Forecast service can receive updates for any site in North and South America and Pacific islands. A new nowcasting algorithm was used for these regions which, among other upgrades, improves cloud motion extrapolation and provides nowcasts with reduced uncertainty.

Data model improvements in GOES region

After several model improvements across our data calculator chain, the accuracy of historical time series for the GOES region (covering Americas and Pacific islands) has been improved. The main changes are:
- Use of the highest granularity data available as an input from satellite instruments (up to 10-minute frequency) from year 2019 onwards
- Use of advanced preprocessing algorithms, removing spatial noise and achieving smoother pixel transitions
- Additional terrain corrections, related to better positional accuracy, especially in mountainous regions and high satellite viewing angles
- Improvements in cloud/snow discrimination and cloud index post-processing
- More accurate calculations of sun position
- Inclusion of solar irradiance changes due to solar eclipse events.
Due to this series of improvements, small variations in data values are expected under this new model, in comparison to the Solargis older models used in climData deliveries. Updated bias and RMSD statistics are published in our interactive maps here.