
BF5 User Manual v 2.3
Appendix A: Design and Test Summary
43
Total from the PAR Total, at the stated accuracy of the instrument.
However, the spectral distribution of Diffuse light does vary considerable
between blue sky and overcast conditions. To take this into account, the
BF5 uses the Beam Fraction (Direct / Total) as an estimator of the
proportion of blue skylight, and applies a conversion dependent on this
value. The actual conversion factors used are:
Energy TOTAL = PAR TOTAL * 0.48
Energy DIFFUSE = PAR DIFFUSE * (0.48 – 0.48 * (Beam Fraction)
4
)
These values have been derived from long term measurements against
Kipp energy sensors fitted with shade rings, at a number of different sites,
over a wide range of conditions.
Illuminance units (lux)
The human eye response curve covers the same spectrum range as PAR.
A single conversion factor to lux is used (1
mol.m
-2
.s
-1
= 55.7 lux). This
has been derived theoretically from a range of different daylight spectra
measured with a LiCor spectroradiometer in a range of conditions. The
varying spectral distribution of, for example, blue skylight, overcast
skylight, or Direct beam sunlight at sunset, only cause a 1% - 2% variation
from this, which is well within the specified instrument accuracy.
Sunshine state
The WMO definition of sunshine presence is that there is greater than 120
W.m
-2
in the Direct beam, measured perpendicular to the beam. This
cannot be measured directly by a horizontal cosine corrected sensor. The
BF5 uses the following algorithm, which has been found to give good
results when compared with the WMO definition, and substantially more
accurate than measurements using a Campbell-Stokes recorder.
Sunshine presence if
Total/Diffuse > 1.25
and
Total > 50
mol.m
-2
.s
-1