All Annotations of Solar radiation - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia[Preview]

saved by7 people, first byfaraaz on 2007-11-22, last bycammer8 on 2008-02-01

• Solar radiation is radiant energy emitted by the sun from a nuclear fusion reaction that creates
  electromagnetic energy. The spectrum
  of solar radiation is close to that of a black body with a temperature of about 5800 K. 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. ^[1] When
  ultraviolet radiation is not absorbed by the atmosphere or other protective
  coating, it can cause a change in the skin color of humans.

• Solar radiation is radiant energy emitted by the sun from a nuclear fusion reaction that creates electromagnetic energy.

• Climate effect of solar radiation

  
  

  
  

  Further information: Solar dimming and Insolation

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  

  Solar
  irradiance spectrum above atmosphere and at surface

  
  

  On Earth, solar radiation is obvious as daylight when the sun is above the horizon. This is during daytime, and also
  in summer near the poles at night, but not at all in winter near the poles. When
  the direct radiation is not blocked by clouds, it is experienced as sunshine, a combination of bright
  yellow light (sunlight in the strict sense) and heat. The heat on the body, on
  objects, etc., that is directly produced by the radiation should be
  distinguished from the increase in air temperature.

  
  

  The amount of radiation intercepted by a planetary body varies as the square
  of the distance between the star and the planet. The Earth's orbit and obliquity change with time (over thousands of years),
  sometimes forming a nearly perfect circle, and at other times stretching out to
  an orbital
  eccentricity of 5% (currently 1.67%). The total insolation remains almost constant but the seasonal
  and latitudinal distribution and intensity of solar radiation received at the
  Earth's surface also varies ^[5]. For example, at latitudes of 65 degrees the
  change in solar energy in summer & winter can vary by more than 25% as a
  result of the Earth's orbital variation. Because changes in winter and summer
  tend to offset, the change in the annual average insolation at any given
  location is near zero, but the redistribution of energy between summer and
  winter does strongly affect the intensity of seasonal cycles. Such changes
  associated with the redistribution of solar energy are considered a likely cause
  for the coming and going of recent ice
  ages (see: Milankovitch cycles).

• On Earth, solar radiation is obvious as daylight when the sun is above the horizon. This is during daytime, and also
  in summer near the poles at night, but not at all in winter near the poles. When
  the direct radiation is not blocked by clouds, it is experienced as sunshine, a combination of bright
  yellow light (sunlight in the strict sense) and heat. The heat on the body, on
  objects, etc., that is directly produced by the radiation should be
  distinguished from the increase in air temperature.

• On Earth, solar radiation is obvious as daylight when the sun is above the horizon. This is during daytime, and also in summer near the poles at night, but not at all in winter near the poles. When the direct radiation is not blocked by clouds, it is experienced as sunshine, a combination of bright yellow light (sunlight in the strict sense) and heat. The heat on the body, on objects, etc., that is directly produced by the radiation should be distinguished from the increase in air temperature.

  
  

  The amount of radiation intercepted by a planetary body varies as the square of the distance between the star and the planet. The Earth's orbit and obliquity change with time (over thousands of years), sometimes forming a nearly perfect circle, and at other times stretching out to an orbital eccentricity of 5% (currently 1.67%). The total insolation remains almost constant but the seasonal and latitudinal distribution and intensity of solar radiation received at the Earth's surface also varies ^[5]. For example, at latitudes of 65 degrees the change in solar energy in summer & winter can vary by more than 25% as a result of the Earth's orbital variation. Because changes in winter and summer tend to offset, the change in the annual average insolation at any given location is near zero, but the redistribution of energy between summer and winter does strongly affect the intensity of seasonal cycles. Such changes associated with the redistribution of solar energy are considered a likely cause for the coming and going of recent ice ages (see: Milankovitch cycles).