What percentage of incoming solar radiation is absorbed by the atmosphere?
As per published data, 1) About 16% of incoming solar radiation is absorbed by the atmosphere. 2) Atmosphere reflects back 6%; 3) Clouds reflect 20%, Clouds absorb 3% ,and 4) Of the balance of radiation 55%; Earths’ surface reflects back 4%; and 51% get absorbed by the earth's surface (lands and oceans).
Does all the solar energy that reaches the Earth actually reach?
Not all of the solar energy that reaches the Earth actually reaches the surface of the Earth. As per published data, 1) About 16% of incoming solar radiation is absorbed by the atmosphere.
How much of the Earth's radiation is lost to outer space?
Roughly half of the radiation that is scattered is lost to outer space, the remaining half is directed towards the Earth’s surface from all directions as diffuse radiation. Because of absorption by oxygen and ozone molecules the shortest wavelength that reaches the Earth’s surface is approximately 0.29 µm.
What is the percentage of light energy from the Sun?
In terms of energy, sunlight at Earth's surface is around 52 to 55 percent infrared (above 700 nm), 42 to 43 percent visible (400 to 700 nm), and 3 to 5 percent ultraviolet (below 400 nm). Go to my Profile and you can find all about solar panels and alte… What is the future of solar energy in the next 5–10 years?
What is the solar constant?
The solar constant (I SC) is the average radiation intensity falling on an imaginary surface, perpendicular to the Sun’s rays and at the edge of the Earth’s atmosphere (figure 2.1). The word ‘constant’ is a little misleading since, because of the Earth’s elliptical orbit the intensity of the solar radiation falling on the Earth changes by about 7% between January 1 st, when the Earth is nearest the Sun, and July 3 rd, when the Earth is furthest from the Sun (figure 1.2). A yearly average value is thus taken and the solar constant equals 1367 W/m 2. Even this value is inaccurate since the output of the sun changes by about ±0.25% due to Sun spot cycles.
How much extraterrestrial insolation is there on Earth?
This value is then divided by half the surface areas of the Earth, 4nR 2 /2, which gives 684 W/m 2, the average insolation incident on unit area of the Earth facing the Sun (figure 2.9). Note that solar panels are calibrated assuming that there is 1000 W/m 2 available.
What is the value of the solar radiation in Figure 2.10?
Figure 2.10 shows the yearly profile of mean solar radiation for different locations around the world. The solid grey line show the value of 5.75 kWh/day and the dashed grey line shows 2.88 kWh/day.
What is the process of scattering particles that are larger than wavelengths of light called?
Scattering by dust particles larger than wavelengths of light is called Mie scattering . This process includes both true scattering (where the radiation bounces of the particle) and absorption followed by emission, which heats the particles. The amount of radiation scattered by this process will vary a lot depending on location and the weather blowing particles about. A form of Mie scattering called the Tyndall effect, that preferentially scatters shorter wavelengths is responsible for the sky being blue.
What is the wavelength of the Sun?
The Sun’s radiation is a good approximation of black body radiation (a continuous distribution of wavelengths with no wavelengths missing) with wavelengths in the range of about 0.2 µm to 2.6 µm (figure 2.5). The solar spectrum consists of ultra violate rays in the range of 200 to 400 nm, visible light in the range 390 nm (violet) to 740 nm (red) and the infra red in the range 700 nm to 1mm. Table 2.1 shows the subdivisions of the ultra violate range and table 2.2 shows the distribution of extraterrestrial solar radiation.
How does the Sun's energy affect the Earth's surface?
As the Sun’s rays pass through the atmosphere certain wavelengths are absorbed and a proportion of the total energy is scattered. Thus the solar spectrum at the Earth’s surface has some wavelengths missing (shown blacked out in figure 2.5) and the overall intensity is reduced.
What is the fraction of solar energy reflected back to space from clouds, scattering and reflection from the Earth's?
The fraction of the total solar radiant energy reflected back to space from clouds, scattering and reflection from the Earth’s surface is called the albedo of the Earth-atmosphere system and is roughly 0.3 for the Earth as a whole. Figure 2.7 shows that a plane on the Earth’s surface receives:
What is the meaning of "d" in water vapor?
D) amount of water vapor in the air relative to the saturation vapor pressure.
What is the difference between weather and climate?
1) The difference between climate and weather is that#N#A) weather is limited to precipitation and wind. #N#B) climate is the long term pattern of weather.#N#C) climate is limited to temperature. #N#D) weather is a measure of climate.
What is limited to precipitation and wind?
A) weather is limited to precipitation and wind.
What is the long term pattern of weather?
B) climate is the long term pattern of weather.
Which direction would air masses in the Northern Hemisphere rotate?
B) Air masses in the Northern Hemisphere would rotate counterclockwise.
Which side of mountains is D?
D) on the leeward side of mountains than on the windward side.