In a new weekly update for pv magazineSolcast, a DNV company, reports that Rio de Janeiro recorded the sunniest June in more than 18 years, with solar radiation 15% above the long-term average. This was part of a band of above-average sunshine that stretched through Bolivia, Paraguay and parts of Brazil. Conversely, southern Argentina saw a drop in insolation up to 30% below the long-term average, while experiencing its cloudiest June during the same period.
The shift in the jet stream in June has brought significant variations in weather conditions across South America. Rio de Janeiro experienced its sunniest winter in almost two decades, while southern Argentina had its cloudiest winter, according to analysis using the Solcast API.
Rio de Janeiro recorded the sunniest June in more than 18 years, with solar radiation 15% above the long-term average. This was part of a band of above-average sunshine that stretched through Bolivia, Paraguay and parts of Brazil. The jet stream continued further south than normal, creating a stable upper atmosphere over these areas that suppressed cloud formation, resulting in sunnier and warmer conditions than normally expected for this time of year.
Conversely, southern Argentina saw a drop in insolation up to 30% below the long-term average, while experiencing its cloudiest June during the same period. The anomalous position of the jet stream increased atmospheric instability, prolonging the persistence of cold fronts in winter
south.
In the central-eastern part of Argentina, Buenos Aires saw a more moderate decrease in insolation, about 10% below usual levels, demonstrating the broader impact of these unusual weather patterns.
June, a winter month in South America, naturally has the lowest total insolation because the midday sun reaches its lowest point during the winter solstice on June 20. While the position of the sun determines the maximum available sunlight, local cloud cover has a significant influence on solar radiation.
the actual radiation reaching the surface accounts for the interannual variability.
Solcast produces these figures by tracking clouds and aerosols worldwide at a resolution of 1-2 km, using proprietary satellite data AI/ML algorithms. This data is used to drive irradiance models, allowing Solcast to calculate high-resolution irradiance, with a typical deviation of less than 2%, as well as cloud tracking predictions. This data is used by more than 300 companies that manage more than 150 GW of solar energy worldwide.
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