Determination of surface global radiation using METEOSAT images and ground based visibility measurements

Our purpose is the forecast of the global radiation. As a first step we try to determine the global radiation as function of other predictable parameters. First the daily average values of the relative global radiation was considered as parabolic function of the cloud coverage obtained from METEOSAT images, an empirical formula was determined for calculation of the relative global radiation from the cloud amount. The correct this formula the cloud coverage and ground based visibility data were used. The value of the multiple correlation coefficient presenting the accuracy of the new formula was 0.96 for Budapest, and 0.93 for region of Hungary. This fact indicates that we have a sufficiently correct formula for calculation of the global radiation.