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Abstract: This study aims to explore the solar radiation field in southern Algerian peninsula, hourly measurements of global and diffuse radiant fluxes collected at Ghardaïa site (32.360N, 3.810W, 450 m above MSL), from 1 January 2005 to 31 December 2008, are employed. These data were used to further addressing radiant fluxes distribution on hourly, daily, monthly and seasonal basis that in turn are of particular important from the point of view of proper design of building energy systems as well as accurate evaluation of thermal environment within buildings. Results obtained suggest that the annual value of clearness and diffuses indexes are respectively 0.68 and 0.37, and the monthly average daily values of global solar radiant flux exhibits seasonal variability with higher values in summer (7762 Wh/m2) and lower ones during winter (3915 Wh/m2). Regarding diffuse radiant flux, measurements shows that the monthly average daily value is about (1173 Wh/m2) in winter, while it is around (2829 Wh/m2) in summer. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This paper presents an overview of actual solar radiation data measurements in Ghardaïa site (32.360 N, 3.810 W, 450 m above MSL). Global solar radiation and surface temperatures were measured and analyzed for one complete year from 1 January-31December 2005. The data thus recorded are compared with corresponding data of the 22-year average of NASA's surface meteorology and solar energy-model. Hourly, daily and monthly solar radiation was made from five-minute recorded by EKO Pyranometer. The highest measured daily and monthly mean solar radiation was found to be 369 and 326 (W/m2), and the highest five minute averaged solar radiation values up to 1268 (W/m2) were observed in the summer season from May to September, and the yearly average daily energy input was 21.83 (MJ/m2/day). Besides the global solar radiation, the daily and monthly average temperature variations are discussed. The collected data indicate that Ghardaïa has a strong potential for solar energy applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]