Meosat-2 satellite data in the visible band were used to calculate monthly averages from daily mean incident solar radiation over Brazil, using the IGMK physical model for the period 1985-1986. Satellite estimates are compared with ground data from 22 national stations. The global root mean square error between model and ground results for all data points was 13%, and the mean bias error was 1.23 MJ m(-2). About 68% of the individual errors were below 10% and clustered around 8%. Global radiation estimated by the model ranged from 9.0 to 27 MJ m(-2) with the diffuse to global ratio falling into the 0.2-0.5 interval. Enhanced inverted zonal trends were found for both satellite predictions and the ground station results.