Search results
Results from the WOW.Com Content Network
At most about 75% of the solar energy actually reaches the earth's surface, [15] as even with a cloudless sky it is partially reflected and absorbed by the atmosphere. Even light cirrus clouds reduce this to 50%, stronger cirrus clouds to 40%.
The solar constant is a conventional ... or diffuse sky radiation is the radiation at the Earth's surface from light ... NASA Surface meteorology and Solar Energy;
Of the ~340 W/m 2 of solar radiation received by the Earth, an average of ~77 W/m 2 is reflected back to space by clouds and the atmosphere and ~23 W/m 2 is reflected by the surface albedo, leaving ~240 W/m 2 of solar energy input to the Earth's energy budget. This amount is called the absorbed solar radiation (ASR).
However, the seasonal and latitudinal distribution and intensity of solar radiation received at Earth's surface does vary. [28] The effect of Sun angle on climate results in the change in solar energy in summer and winter. For example, at latitudes of 65 degrees, this can vary by more than 25% as a result of Earth's orbital variation. Because ...
Solar radiation pressure on objects near the Earth may be calculated using the Sun's irradiance at 1 AU, known as the solar constant, or G SC, whose value is set at 1361 W/m 2 as of 2011. [17] All stars have a spectral energy distribution that depends on their surface temperature. The distribution is approximately that of black-body radiation.
The earth's atmosphere absorbs a considerable amount of the ultraviolet light. The resulting spectrum at the Earth's surface has fewer photons, but they are of lower energy on average, so the number of photons, above the bandgap, per unit of sunlight energy is greater than in space. This means that solar cells are more efficient at AM1 than AM0.
A hybrid solar eclipse occurs because the earth’s surface is curved, sometimes an eclipse can shift between annular and total eclipse as the moon’s shadow moves across the globe.
Surface albedo is defined as the ratio of radiosity J e to the irradiance E e (flux per unit area) received by a surface. [2] The proportion reflected is not only determined by properties of the surface itself, but also by the spectral and angular distribution of solar radiation reaching the Earth's surface. [3]