Abstract

GOMEZ-TAGLE CHAVEZ, Alberto  and  CHAVEZ HUERTA, Yolanda. Calculation of potential insolation spatial distribution in the terrain using DEM in a GIS environment. Invest. Geog [online]. 2004, n.55, pp.7-22. ISSN 2448-7279.

A study case is presented herewith where potential insolation (PI) and real insolation (RI) were calculated for a small area (634.4 ha) by means of the computer programs Insol_Día and Insol_Mes using a digital elevation model (DEM). These programs calculate PI by means of geographical information system (GIS) procedures and spheric geometry formulae. RI was calculated correcting the digital maps of PI with meteorological obervatory (15-0040, Morelia, Mich.) data of the Servicio Meteorológico Nacional. As a result a series of digital maps created within a GIS environment were obtained, these maps represent the spatial distribution of PI and RI for specific dates, hole months, seasons and annually. Maximum annual PI was 4 389 hours, whereas annual minimum was 2 946 hours. Annual RI maximum and minimum values were 2 144.9 and 1 439.7 hours. Daily averages for maximum and minimum PI were 12.05 hours/day and 8.07 hours/day, and RI average values were of 5.88 hours/day as maximum and 3.944 hours/day as minimum, showing an important difference between PI and RI. We consider that information of this kind can be useful in studies of plant distribution, hydrological balance, edaphic properties distribution, geologic material weathering rate, bioclimatic architecture and other areas in which spatial distribution of insolation is a relevant variable.

Keywords : Potential insolation; real insolation; geographical information systems; digital elevation model application (DEM); Morelia; Michoacán.

        · abstract in Spanish     · text in Spanish     · Spanish ( pdf )