Application of solar energy simulation for rainforest environment

This paper describes the method of the solar energy simulation as one of the topographic analyses for rainforest environmental monitoring. Almost of all the radiation energy on the earth is from solar radiation energy. The photosynthesis that plant leaves receive the form of energy from the sun is indispensable for the growth process. However, it is difficult to measure and interpret the amount of solar radiation energy in large areas and during long time periods because of the movement of the sun, topographic effects and observation points etc. In this study, the method how to simulate solar energy was proposed through topographic analysis using a multi-temporal shaded relief images data set generated by DEM. Also, the spatial distribution and seasonal changes of the simulated solar energy amount caused by the topographic effects were clarified for understanding the environmental dynamics in rainforest.