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Taken on 20 October 1968 from Apollo 7. Sunlight is a portion of the electromagnetic radiation given off by the Sun, in particular infrared, visible, and ultraviolet light. On Earth, sunlight is scattered and filtered through Earth's atmosphere as daylight when the Sun is above the horizon.
Total solar irradiance (TSI) is a measure of the solar power over all wavelengths per unit area incident on the Earth's upper atmosphere. It is measured perpendicular to the incoming sunlight. [3] The solar constant is a conventional measure of mean TSI at a distance of one astronomical unit (AU).
The Sun emits its peak power in the visible region, although integrating the entire emission power spectrum through all wavelengths shows that the Sun emits slightly more infrared than visible light. [15] By definition, visible light is the part of the EM spectrum the human eye is the most sensitive to. Visible light (and near-infrared light ...
Earth constantly absorbs energy from sunlight and emits thermal radiation as infrared light. In the long run, Earth radiates the same amount of energy per second as it absorbs, because the amount of thermal radiation emitted depends upon temperature: If Earth absorbs more energy per second than it radiates, Earth heats up and the thermal radiation will increase, until balance is restored; if ...
The Sun has a surface temperature of 5,500 °C (9,900 °F), so it emits most of its energy as shortwave radiation in near-infrared and visible wavelengths (as sunlight). In contrast, Earth's surface has a much lower temperature, so it emits longwave radiation at mid- and far-infrared wavelengths. [6]
Outgoing longwave radiation. Spectral intensity of sunlight (average at top of atmosphere) and thermal radiation emitted by Earth's surface. In climate science, longwave radiation (LWR) is electromagnetic thermal radiation emitted by Earth's surface, atmosphere, and clouds. It may also be referred to as terrestrial radiation.
Rough plot of Earth's atmospheric absorption and scattering (or opacity) of various wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation. Most UV and X-rays are blocked by absorption first from molecular nitrogen, and then (for wavelengths in the upper UV) from the electronic excitation of dioxygen and finally ozone at the mid-range of UV. Only 30% of the ...
Solar Dynamics Observatory. The detailed images recorded by SDO in 2011–2012 have helped scientists uncover new secrets about the Sun. The Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) is a NASA mission which has been observing the Sun since 2010. [ 4 ] Launched on 11 February 2010, the observatory is part of the Living With a Star (LWS) program.