Insolation Dynamics and Their Influence on Climate Variability in Northern Malaysia: A Case Study of Perlis

Abstract

Solar insolation represents one of the Earth’s most important renewable energy sources. In Perlis, Malaysia, high levels of solar radiation are experienced year-round, with notable variations in weather conditions. These fluctuations play a significant role in shaping the region’s insolation patterns. Therefore, this study aims to explore the interdependency between weather variability and insolation patterns in Perlis, focusing on two main objectives: first, to examine seasonal variations in weather conditions, and second, to determine correlations between weather variables and insolation throughout the year. To achieve these objectives, the study begins with comprehensive data acquisition, where meteorological data are analysed to identify seasonal trends and fluctuations in weather conditions. At the same time, solar radiation data are carefully generated using a Digital Terrain Model (DTM), ensuring accurate representation of spatial variability. Following this, statistical analyses, particularly correlation methods, are applied to evaluate the relationships between key meteorological variables and insolation. The findings reveal that temperature and precipitation exhibit moderate correlations with insolation patterns, with coefficients of determination (R²) of 0.5549 and 0.5458, respectively. In contrast, wind speed shows only a weak relationship with insolation, indicated by a low R² value of 0.0537. Building on these results, Geographic Information System (GIS) techniques are employed to map the spatial distribution of both insolation and weather variables across the study area. Overall, the integration of statistical and spatial analyses provides a comprehensive understanding of how seasonal weather variations influence solar radiation in Perlis. These insights are valuable for supporting environmental management strategies and enhancing local-level planning and decision-making, particularly in the context of renewable energy development.