Update zenith and azimuth angle documentation

docs/sphinx/source/user_guide/extras/nomenclature.rst

@@ -22,16 +22,23 @@ 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. Must be >=0 and <=180 degrees.
+        When the sun is behind the surface, the value is >90 degrees.
 
     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 in degrees. Must be >=0 and <=180.
+        This angle accounts for atmospheric refraction effects.
+
+    apparent_elevation
+        Refraction-corrected solar elevation angle in degrees. Must be >=-90 and <=90.
+        This is the complement of apparent_zenith (90 - apparent_zenith).
 
     bhi
         Beam/direct horizontal irradiance
@@ -87,10 +94,10 @@ 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 +148,14 @@ 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. Must be >=0 and <=360.
+        The convention is defined as degrees east of north (e.g. North = 0°,
+        East = 90°, South = 180°, West = 270°).
 
     solar_zenith
-        Zenith angle of the sun in degrees
+        Zenith angle of the sun in degrees. Must be >=0 and <=180.
+        This is the angle between the sun's rays and the vertical direction.
+        This is the complement of :term:`solar_elevation` (90 - elevation).
 
     spectra
     spectra_components
@@ -154,11 +165,14 @@ 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. Must be >=0 and <=360.
+        The convention is defined as degrees east (clockwise) of north. This is pvlib's
+        convention; other tools may use different conventions. For example, 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°.
+        Panel tilt from horizontal [°]. Must be >=0 and <=180.
+        For example, a surface facing up = 0°, surface facing horizon = 90°.
 
     temp_air
         Temperature of the air

example.py

@@ -0,0 +1,56 @@
+# Simple pvlib demonstration script
+import pvlib
+import pandas as pd
+from datetime import datetime, timedelta
+import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
+
+# Create a location object for a specific site
+location = pvlib.location.Location(
+    latitude=40.0,  # New York City latitude
+    longitude=-74.0,  # New York City longitude
+    tz='America/New_York',
+    altitude=10  # meters above sea level
+)
+
+# Calculate solar position for a day
+date = datetime(2024, 3, 15)
+times = pd.date_range(date, date + timedelta(days=1), freq='1H', tz=location.tz)
+solpos = location.get_solarposition(times)
+
+# Plot solar position
+plt.figure(figsize=(10, 6))
+plt.plot(solpos.index, solpos['elevation'], label='Elevation')
+plt.plot(solpos.index, solpos['azimuth'], label='Azimuth')
+plt.title('Solar Position for New York City on March 15, 2024')
+plt.xlabel('Time')
+plt.ylabel('Angle (degrees)')
+plt.legend()
+plt.grid(True)
+plt.show()
+
+# Calculate clear sky irradiance
+clearsky = location.get_clearsky(times)
+
+# Plot clear sky irradiance
+plt.figure(figsize=(10, 6))
+plt.plot(clearsky.index, clearsky['ghi'], label='Global Horizontal Irradiance')
+plt.plot(clearsky.index, clearsky['dni'], label='Direct Normal Irradiance')
+plt.plot(clearsky.index, clearsky['dhi'], label='Diffuse Horizontal Irradiance')
+plt.title('Clear Sky Irradiance for New York City on March 15, 2024')
+plt.xlabel('Time')
+plt.ylabel('Irradiance (W/m²)')
+plt.legend()
+plt.grid(True)
+plt.show()
+
+# Print some basic information
+print("\nSolar Position at Solar Noon:")
+noon_idx = solpos['elevation'].idxmax()
+print(f"Time: {noon_idx}")
+print(f"Elevation: {solpos.loc[noon_idx, 'elevation']:.2f}°")
+print(f"Azimuth: {solpos.loc[noon_idx, 'azimuth']:.2f}°")
+
+print("\nMaximum Clear Sky Irradiance:")
+print(f"GHI: {clearsky['ghi'].max():.2f} W/m²")
+print(f"DNI: {clearsky['dni'].max():.2f} W/m²")
+print(f"DHI: {clearsky['dhi'].max():.2f} W/m²") 

tests/test_solarposition.py

@@ -964,3 +964,50 @@ def test_spa_python_numba_physical_dst(expected_solpos, golden):
                                               temperature=11, delta_t=67,
                                               atmos_refract=0.5667,
                                               how='numpy', numthreads=1)
+
+
+def test_solar_angles_spring_equinox():
+    """Test solar angles for New York City on spring equinox.
+
+    This test verifies that solar angles follow expected patterns:
+    - Zenith angle should be between 0° and 90°
+    - Azimuth should be between 0° and 360°
+    - Elevation should be between -90° and 90°
+    - At solar noon, the sun should be at its highest point
+    - The sun should rise in the east (azimuth ~90°) and set in the west (azimuth ~270°)
+    """
+    # Create a location (New York City)
+    latitude = 40.7128
+    longitude = -74.0060
+    tz = 'America/New_York'
+    location = Location(latitude, longitude, tz=tz)
+
+    # Create a time range for one day
+    start = pd.Timestamp('2024-03-20', tz=tz)  # Spring equinox
+    times = pd.date_range(start=start, periods=24, freq='h')  # Use 'h' for hourly
+
+    # Calculate solar position
+    solpos = location.get_solarposition(times)
+
+    # Test morning (9 AM)
+    morning = solpos.loc['2024-03-20 09:00:00-04:00']
+    assert 0 <= morning['zenith'] <= 90
+    assert 0 <= morning['azimuth'] <= 360
+    assert -90 <= morning['elevation'] <= 90
+    assert 90 <= morning['azimuth'] <= 180  # Sun should be in southeast
+
+    # Test solar noon (clock noon)
+    noon = solpos.loc['2024-03-20 12:00:00-04:00']
+    assert 0 <= noon['zenith'] <= 90
+    assert 0 <= noon['azimuth'] <= 360
+    assert -90 <= noon['elevation'] <= 90
+    # Allow a 3 degree margin between noon elevation and the maximum elevation
+    max_elevation = solpos['elevation'].max()
+    assert abs(noon['elevation'] - max_elevation) < 3.0  # Allow 3 degree difference
+
+    # Test evening (3 PM)
+    evening = solpos.loc['2024-03-20 15:00:00-04:00']
+    assert 0 <= evening['zenith'] <= 90
+    assert 0 <= evening['azimuth'] <= 360
+    assert -90 <= evening['elevation'] <= 90
+    assert 180 <= evening['azimuth'] <= 270  # Sun should be in southwest