Global Maps of Solar Irradiation and Direct Sunshine Duration at 1 x 2.5 arcsec (30 x 75 m) Resolution

This dataset provides high-resolution global maps of solar irradiation on tilted surfaces and direct sunshine duration at a spatial resolution of 1 x 2.5 arcsec (approximately 30 x 75 m). Unlike standard horizontal models, these maps explicitly account for local topography (slope and aspect) and complex shading effects. This makes the data uniquely suited for: Agricultural modeling & Forestry: Analyzing micro-climates and light availability for plant growth in complex terrain. Spatial & Landscape Planning: Assessing solar access for building sites, urban development, and residential comfort. Renewable Energy: High-precision evaluation of photovoltaic potential in non-flat areas. The irradiation maps (Wh/m^2/day) include beam, diffuse, and ground-reflected components. The sunshine duration maps represent the total daily time an area receives direct, unshaded sunlight. Full Time Series (Processed):The complete global series includes the following dates: Dec 21 (Winter Solstice N), Nov 21, Oct 23, Sep 23 (Equinox), Aug 23, July 22, and June 21 (Summer Solstice N). Note: This repository currently focuses on the high-resolution data for the winter solstice (Dec 21st). While the other dates listed above have been fully processed, they are available upon request due to their significant total storage volume (327 GB). Technical Details: Source Data: Copernicus Global DEM. Modeling: GRASS GIS r.sun module. Atmospheric Parameters: Linke turbidity (3.0), ground albedo (0.2), 15-degree horizontal angle steps. Format: GeoTIFF (8-bit scaled). Scaling: Multiply Irradiation pixel values by 50, Sunshine Duration by 0.25 to recover original units. Structure: 45 x 45 degree tiles. Spatial Coverage: Near-global (65°S to 85°N). High-latitude regions (e.g., Antarctica) are excluded. Usage: GDAL Virtual Raster (.vrt) files are included for seamless integration in GIS software.