Quality assessment of high-resolution climate records of satellite derived solar irradiance

Measurements from geostationary satellites allow the retrieval of surface solar irradiance homogeneously over large areas, thereby providing essential information for the solar energy sector. Here, the SICCS solar irradiance data record derived from 12 years of MSG satellite measurements is analysed with a focus on the Netherlands. Daily SICCS data is validated with pyranometer observations, indicating a bias of approximately 3W/m2. Next, the data record is optimized using surface observations and kriging interpolation with satellite observations as trend. Long term averages, seasonal variations and inter-annual variability of solar irradiance show regional patterns related to the surface type.