NASA-POWER satellite data

NASA-POWER (Prediction Of Worldwide Energy Resources) is a data service provided by NASA, delivering satellite-derived meteorological and solar resource data for energy applications. The data are derived from a combination of satellite observations, atmospheric models and data assimilation systems.

The service provides monthly averaged meteorological data through an online API, with a spatial resolution of 0.5° × 0.5° and a typical time coverage from 2001 to 2020. The dataset includes global horizontal irradiation and ambient temperature, as well as additional parameters such as diffuse irradiation, wind velocity and relative humidity.

Method and accuracy

The NASA POWER data are derived from a combination of satellite observations and atmospheric reanalysis models. Solar radiation parameters are primarily based on satellite-derived radiative fluxes (e.g. CERES), while meteorological variables originate from the MERRA-2 (Modern-Era Retrospective analysis for Research and Applications) data assimilation system.

The MERRA-2 reanalysis combines satellite measurements with numerical weather prediction models to produce spatially and temporally continuous datasets of atmospheric variables on a global grid. The accuracy of the NASA-POWER data is evaluated through systematic comparisons with ground-based measurements from global observation networks (such as NOAA/NCEI surface stations). These validation studies indicate that the data are sufficiently accurate for solar energy and climatological applications in regions where ground measurements are sparse. More detailed information is available in the official NASA-POWER documentation

More detailed information aboput the NASA data sources and validation overview is available in the official NASA-POWER documentation.

NASA-SSE satellite data

NASA-SSE (Surface Meteorology and Solar Energy) was an earlier dataset based on satellite-derived monthly averages, covering the period 1983–2005 with a spatial resolution of 1° × 1°. This database is no longer updated and has been superseded by NASA-POWER, but may still be encountered in older studies.