Application of beta distribution model to Malaysian sunshine data

Malaysian sunshine data covering a ten-year period were fitted to a beta distribution model. Most of the months follow mount shape distributions. The K–S statistics indicated that the distributions fitted well the Petaling Jaya and Subang stations. All months could not be rejected at 5% level. For the Bayan Lepas and Kota Bharu stations, some months were significantly different. Our data showed a weak empirical relationship between the mean and standard deviation and this rules out the possibility of using tabulated mean sunshine data to estimate the standard deviation. The standard deviation must therefore be calculated from the measured data. For Malaysia, measured daily sunshine data must be made available before the model can be used.