Assessing the Accuracy of NASA Power Meteorological Data in Iraq

This study assesses the precision of NASA Power meteorological data in Iraq over a 12-year period, utilizing data from 10 meteorological stations. The research focuses on key meteorological parameters, i.e., average daily temperatures, rainfall, wind speed, solar radiation, and relative humidity. Through transparent data analysis and comparison, the validity of NASA Power in local climate monitoring within Iraq is evaluated. Through statistical analysis, the correlation between NASA Power data and meteorological station data is evaluated using Kendall's Tau correlation coefficient test and Mean Bias Error (MBE). The comparison of NASA Power meteorological data with observed data from ten meteorological stations in Iraq revealed significant findings. NASA Power data displayed a high correlation (0.748-0.912) with observed temperatures, indicating accuracy in temperature assessment. The data also showed weak to strong correlations (0.105-0.526) for rainfall and weak to moderate correlations (0.105-0.427) for wind speed, suggesting potential supplementary use, albeit with the need for calibration. For solar radiation, NASA Power data exhibited a strong to very strong correlation (r = 0.636-0.834), making it suitable for solar assessments. For relative humidity, a very strong correlation (r = 0.636-0.834) was demonstrated, indicating the need for further analysis. Despite its reliability as a meteorological data source in Iraq, NASA Power data should undergo validation across various applications and regions to ensure its accuracy and dependability.