Solar radiation and cloud modification factor at J.G. Mendel and King Sejong stations, Antarctic Peninsula

The dataset includes daily mean solar radiation (DSR) in W.m-2 and daily mean cloud modification factor (CMF) for J.G. Mendel (James Ross Island) and King Sejong (King George Island, South Shetland Islands) stations located in the Antarctic Peninsula region for the period 2011–2016. The dataset is included in:

Szymszová, S., Láska, K., Kim, S.-J., Park, S.-J., 2025. Variability of solar radiation and cloud cover in the Antarctic Peninsula region. Atmospheric Research, 316, 107940. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosres.2025.107940

DSR was measured by CMP11 pyranometer (Kipp & Zonen, the Netherlands) at J.G. Mendel station and Eppley Precision Pyranometer (The Eppley Laboratory, USA) at King Sejong station in a 10-min time step.

CMF was calculated as ratio of measured DSR and theoretical DSR (DSR at the same atmospheric conditions as the measured DSR, but with excluded influence of clouds). Theoretical DSR was calculated using Bird and Hulstrom model (Bird and Hulstrom, 1981*).  Input parameters to the model were solar zenith angle, atmospheric pressure, water vapour content, ozone, albedo, forward-scatterd irradiance ratio and aerosol optical depth at wavelenghts of 380 and 500 nm.

*Bird, R. E. and Hulstrom, R. L., 1981. A Simplified Clear Sky Model for Direct and Diffuse Insolation on Horizontal Surfaces, Technical Report No. SERI/TR-642-761, Golden, CO: Solar Energy Research Institute.