International Journal of
Physical Sciences

  • Abbreviation: Int. J. Phys. Sci.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 1992-1950
  • DOI: 10.5897/IJPS
  • Start Year: 2006
  • Published Articles: 2574

Full Length Research Paper

Application of regression and multiple correlation analysis to morning hours solar radiation in Lapai

Agbo G. A.1*, Alfa B.2, Ibeh G. F.1 and Adamu I. S.2
1Department of Industrial Physics, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, Nigeria. 2Department of Physics, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai, Nigeria
Email: [email protected]

  •  Accepted: 22 July 2013
  •  Published: 23 July 2013

Abstract

Solar radiation in Lapai within the morning hours has been estimated by correlating meteorological parameters. This was achieved by applying the first and second order regression and multiple correlation analysis method. The correlation coefficient based on the first and second order equations in temperature and relative humidity were 0.828, 0.692, 0.860 and 0.622 while the correlation coefficient based on the multiple correlations between solar radiations, temperature and relative humidity were 0.351. Validity tests were carried our using mean bias error (MBE), root mean square error (RMSE) and mean percentage error (MPE). The tests show that the errors were minimal in the first order equations in temperature and relative humidity. Comparison of the measured and predicted values of solar radiation based on the relative humidity and average temperature first order equations show a close agreement, and suggests the best equations to be used in estimating solar radiation in Lapai and its similar climatic condition.

 

Key words: Solar radiation, multiple regression, correlation coefficient, meteorological parameter-temperature, relative humidity.