diff --git a/docs/sphinx/source/user_guide/extras/nomenclature.rst b/docs/sphinx/source/user_guide/extras/nomenclature.rst index 4c983dc912..444b1ae5cc 100644 --- a/docs/sphinx/source/user_guide/extras/nomenclature.rst +++ b/docs/sphinx/source/user_guide/extras/nomenclature.rst @@ -22,16 +22,24 @@ There is a convention on consistent variable names throughout the library: aoi Angle of incidence. Angle between the surface normal vector and the - vector pointing towards the sun’s center + vector pointing towards the sun's center. [°] aoi_projection - cos(aoi) + cos(aoi). When the sun is behind the surface, the value is negative. + For many uses, negative values must be set to zero. ape Average photon energy apparent_zenith - Refraction-corrected solar zenith angle in degrees + Refraction-corrected solar zenith angle. The solar + zenith angle describes the position of the sun relative to the vertical and is + defined as the angle between a vector pointed straight up and a vector pointed + at the sun, from the observer. [°] + + apparent_elevation + Refraction-corrected solar elevation angle. This is the complement of + :term:`apparent_zenith` (90 - apparent_zenith). [°] bhi Beam/direct horizontal irradiance @@ -87,10 +95,10 @@ There is a convention on consistent variable names throughout the library: Sandia Array Performance Model IV curve parameters latitude - Latitude + Latitude in decimal degrees. Positive north of equator, negative to south. longitude - Longitude + Longitude in decimal degrees. Positive east of prime meridian, negative to west. pac, ac AC power @@ -141,10 +149,15 @@ There is a convention on consistent variable names throughout the library: Diode saturation current solar_azimuth - Azimuth angle of the sun in degrees East of North + Azimuth angle of the sun in degrees East of North. The solar azimuth angle + describes the sun’s position along the horizon relative to the observer. + The pvlib-python convention is defined as degrees East of North, so + North = 0°, East = 90°, South = 180°, West = 270°. solar_zenith - Zenith angle of the sun in degrees + Zenith angle of the sun in degrees. This is the angle between is between a + vector pointed straight up and a vector pointed at the sun, from the observer. + This is the complement of solar elevation (90 - elevation). [°] spectra spectra_components @@ -154,11 +167,16 @@ There is a convention on consistent variable names throughout the library: is composed of direct and diffuse components. surface_azimuth - Azimuth angle of the surface + Azimuth angle of the surface in degrees East of North. This angle describes the + horizontal projection of the normal vector from the surface. The pvlib-python + convention is defined as degrees East (clockwise) of North, so North = 0°, + East = 90°, South = 180°, West = 270°. surface_tilt - Panel tilt from horizontal [°]. For example, a surface facing up = 0°, - surface facing horizon = 90°. + Tilt from horizontal [°]. The surface tilt angle + is defined as degrees from the horizontal + such that a surface facing up would have a surface tilt of 0°, and one facing + the horizon would be 90°. [°] temp_air Temperature of the air diff --git a/docs/sphinx/source/whatsnew/v0.13.1.rst b/docs/sphinx/source/whatsnew/v0.13.1.rst index 9c50d00bbb..14ae31170b 100644 --- a/docs/sphinx/source/whatsnew/v0.13.1.rst +++ b/docs/sphinx/source/whatsnew/v0.13.1.rst @@ -23,6 +23,8 @@ Enhancements Documentation ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +* Substantiate definitions of solar/surface azimuth/zenith and aoi on the + :ref:`nomenclature` page. (:issue:`2448`, :pull:`2503`) Testing @@ -45,3 +47,5 @@ Maintenance Contributors ~~~~~~~~~~~~ * Elijah Passmore (:ghuser:`eljpsm`) +* Rajiv Daxini (:ghuser:`RDaxini`) +* Omar Bahamida (:ghuser:`OmarBahamida`) \ No newline at end of file