A Comparative Study of the Performance of a Solar Radiation Shield for Ground Observations Based on the Stevenson Screen

Abstract

The Stevenson screen has previously been used for ground temperature and humidity observations, but due to the computerization and miniaturization of observation equipment, a solar radiation shield has been more commonly employed in recent years. However, there is no detailed domestic standard for Stevenson screens or solar radiation shields in weather stations or weather observatories. Accordingly, this study was conducted to derive the required standard for solar radiation shields by comparing the temperature and humidity observations of a Stevenson screen and a solar radiation shield in Korea. Through these comparisons, the minimal standard requirements for solar radiation shields were determined. First, a solar radiation shield with natural ventilation should have a structure in which the inside (sensor) is not directly transmitted from the outside through a method such as a partition wall inside the plate. Second, in the case of forced ventilation, the structure fixing the ventilation fan must be firmly fixed. Moreover, there should be no interference between the installed sensor and the solar radiation shield. The natural ventilation method and the forced ventilation method showed similar results.