What happens to the incoming solar radiation?
The Earth absorbs most of the energy reaching its surface, a small fraction is reflected. In total approximately 70% of incoming radiation is absorbed by the atmosphere and the Earth’s surface while around 30% is reflected back to space and does not heat the surface.
What are the 3 types of incoming radiation from the sun?
The part of the spectrum that reaches Earth from the sun is between 100 nm and 1 mm. This band is broken into three ranges: ultraviolet, visible, and infrared radiation.
What are the 4 main effects of solar radiation on Earth?
Solar Radiation at the Earth’s Surface
- atmospheric effects, including absorption and scattering;
- local variations in the atmosphere, such as water vapour, clouds, and pollution;
- latitude of the location; and.
- the season of the year and the time of day.
Are solar radiation harmful?
Excessive exposure to the sun is known to be associated with increased risks of various skin cancers, cataracts and other eye diseases, as well as accelerated skin ageing. It may also adversely affect people’s ability to resist infectious diseases, and compromise the effectiveness of vaccination programmes.
What is the relationship between solar radiation and temperature?
When the sun’s rays strike Earth’s surface near the equator, the incoming solar radiation is more direct (nearly perpendicular or closer to a 90˚ angle). Therefore, the solar radiation is concentrated over a smaller surface area, causing warmer temperatures.
What is the difference between solar radiation and temperature?
Temperature is a measurement of the average speed of the atoms and molecules that make up a substance. In the previous section, you learned about radiation. Radiation is the mechanism by which solar energy reaches Earth. Heat energy is also spread throughout Earth’s atmosphere through conduction and convection.
What is the temperature of solar radiation?
Solar radiation is the heat and light and other radiation given off by the Sun. Nuclear reactions in the interior of the Sun maintain a central temperature of 16 million ° C, and a surface temperature of 5700°C.
Is there solar radiation at night?
The earth radiates energy, and therefore loses heat, both day and night. At night, no appreciable solar radiation is received (on the dark side), so there is no appreciable reflection of short-wave radiation.
Which region receives the highest solar radiation?
The equator
What is called solar radiation?
Solar radiation, often called the solar resource or just sunlight, is a general term for the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the sun. Solar radiation can be captured and turned into useful forms of energy, such as heat and electricity, using a variety of technologies.
In which month solar radiation is maximum?
cm per minute at the top of its atmosphere. The solar output received at the top of the atmosphere varies slightly in a year due to the variations in the distance between the earth and the sun. During its revolution around the sun, the earth is farthest from the sun (152 million km) on 4th July.
What wave is solar radiation?
All of the energy from the Sun that reaches the Earth arrives as solar radiation, part of a large collection of energy called the electromagnetic radiation spectrum. Solar radiation includes visible light, ultraviolet light, infrared, radio waves, X-rays, and gamma rays. Radiation is one way to transfer heat.
How solar radiation is created?
Solar radiation is radiant energy emitted by the sun from a nuclear fusion reaction that creates electromagnetic energy. About half of the radiation is in the visible short-wave part of the electromagnetic spectrum. The other half is mostly in the near-infrared part, with some in the ultraviolet part of the spectrum.
What blocks solar radiation?
The magnetosphere provides natural protection against space radiation, deflecting most charged solar particles from Earth. Earth’s protective magnetic bubble, called the magnetosphere, deflects most solar particles. The atmosphere also quells any particles that do make it through.
What are the disadvantages and advantages of solar energy?
Pros and Cons of Solar Energy
| Advantages of Solar Energy | Disadvantages of Solar Energy |
|---|---|
| Reduces Electricity Bills | Weather Dependent |
| Diverse Applications | Solar Energy Storage is Expensive |
| Low Maintenance Costs | Uses a Lot of Space |
| Technology Development | Associated with Pollution |
Is solar radiation renewable energy?
Solar Radiation is Solar Energy. Solar energy is a renewable energy resource, and for all practical purposes is free. The technology and equipment we need to harness solar radiation as energy resource to produce light, heat, power and electricity is well established.
What are the benefits of solar energy radiation?
Solar energy warms the Earth, causes wind and weather, and sustains plant and animal life. The energy, heat, and light from the sun flow away in the form of electromagnetic radiation (EMR). The electromagnetic spectrum exists as waves of different frequencies and wavelengths.
What are the negatives of solar energy?
What are the Disadvantages of Solar Energy (and to the environment)?
- Location & Sunlight Availability.
- Solar Panels use a large amount of space.
- The Sun isn’t always present.
- Solar Energy is Inefficient.
- There is an overlooked Pollution & Environmental Impact.
- Expensive Energy Storage.
- High Initial Cost.