Clear-Sky GHI (GHIcs)
Interactive map with scientific data analysis, point lookup, and detailed environmental information
Map Information
Global horizontal irradiance under cloud-free (clear-sky) conditions, representing the theoretical maximum solar radiation at the surface.
Data Legend
Location Analysis
Technical Specifications
Clear-Sky Global Horizontal Irradiance (GHIcs) – Mean Surface Solar Radiation Downwards
Global | ~1 km Resolution | 2020–2024
Short Description
This dataset represents the spatial distribution of clear-sky global horizontal irradiance (GHIcs), defined as the theoretical solar radiation received at the Earth's surface under cloud-free atmospheric conditions.
Technical Specification
The dataset is derived from ERA5 clear-sky Surface Solar Radiation Downwards (SSRDC) fields and represents mean clear-sky global horizontal irradiance for the period 2020–2024.
ERA5 hourly radiation data were aggregated across the 2020–2024 period to produce a multi-year climatological mean expressed as radiative flux.
Clear-sky conditions are defined by the absence of cloud cover, with radiation governed by solar geometry and atmospheric composition.
This dataset is developed by AtmosphericIQ LLC and processed for distribution and deployment by Engineering Director, Inc.
Key Characteristics
- Units: watts per square meter (W/m²)
- Represents theoretical solar radiation under cloud-free conditions
- Derived from ERA5 SSRDC fields
- Represents climatological mean conditions for 2020–2024
Spatial Characteristics
- Coordinate System: GCS_WGS_1984
- Native Resolution: ~0.25°
- Resampled Resolution: ~1 km (30 arc-second)
- Coverage: Global (±85.0511° for web compatibility)
Role in SSI™ Model
Clear-Sky Global Horizontal Irradiance (GHIcs) is one of several radiative variables incorporated into the Solar Suitability Index (SSI™) model developed by AtmosphericIQ LLC.
As a representation of theoretical solar resource potential under ideal atmospheric conditions, GHIcs provides a baseline against which actual irradiance conditions are evaluated within the SSI™ scoring framework.
This dataset is provided as a supporting climatic input layer and does not independently represent solar suitability.
Applications
- Solar resource potential analysis under clear-sky conditions
- Atmospheric attenuation and cloud impact assessment
- Climatological and environmental modeling
- Geospatial screening workflows
Data Source
Derived from Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) ERA5 reanalysis data, with processing including temporal aggregation (2020–2024), spatial resampling to ~1 km resolution, and web-compatible clipping.
Related SSI™ Dataset
This dataset is a supporting climatic input to the Solar Suitability Index (SSI™), a global multi-parameter model developed by AtmosphericIQ LLC.
For the full solar suitability model and derived classification datasets, see:
Global Solar Suitability Index (SSI™) – Continuous Score (1–100)
Data Access & API Services
This dataset is available through Engineering Director, Inc. platforms:
www.engineeringdirector.com
Use beyond visualization, including API access, automated queries, or integration, is subject to the Engineering Director API Terms of Service.
Legal & Licensing
© 2026 AtmosphericIQ LLC and Engineering Director, Inc. All rights reserved.
This dataset is provided for informational and analytical use only and is supplied "as is" without warranty of any kind. Users assume all risk associated with its use.
Data Distribution Analysis
These histograms show the distribution of pixel values across the entire raster dataset, helping you understand the range and frequency of different measurements.