Solar Radiation Spectrum - The Diigo Meta page

• 23 Nov 07
  

  amandadouglas

  • Solar radiation is becoming increasingly appreciated because of its influence  on living matter and the feasibility of its application for useful purposes. It  is a perpetual source of natural energy that, along with other forms of  renewable energy, has a great potential for a wide variety of applications  because it is abundant and accessible. Solar radiation is rapidly gaining ground  as a supplement to the nonrenewable sources of energy, which have a finite  supply.

  • The solar radiation spectrum

    The electromagnetic radiation emitted by  the sun shows a wide range of wavelengths. It can be divided into two major  regions with respect to the capability of ionizing atoms in radiation-absorbing  matter: ionizing radiation (X-rays and gamma-rays) and nonionizing radiation  (UVR, visible light, and infrared radiation). Fortunately, the highly injurious  ionizing radiation does not penetrate the earth's atmosphere.  

    Solar radiation is commonly divided into various regions or bands on the  basis of wavelength (Table 1). Ultraviolet radiation is that part of the  electromagnetic spectrum between 100 and 400 nm. It is, in turn, divided rather  arbitrarily from the viewpoint of its biological effects into three major  components (Fig. 1). Table 1. Spectral bands of incoming solar energy and  atmospheric effects.

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