The solar irradiance is measured in watt per square metre w m 2 in si units solar irradiance is often integrated over a given time period in order to report the radiant energy emitted into the surrounding environment.
Seasonal solar radiation for a floor plan range.
Climate climate solar radiation and temperature.
The incident solar spectrum varies continuously so that the spectral range that has most influence on the heating rate of the surface also varies.
They are subject to many influences including those of the atmosphere ocean and land and are modified by them.
Solar irradiance is the power per unit area received from the sun in the form of electromagnetic radiation as reported in the wavelength range of the measuring instrument.
As variation of solar radiation is the single most important factor affecting climate it is considered here first.
The lower sun angle 45 causes the solar radiation to be received over a much larger surface area which decreases the total amount of solar radiation in w m 2.
Nuclear reactions in the interior of the sun maintain a central temperature of 16 million c and a surface temperature of 5700 c.
Like all hot objects the sun s surface radiates energy at a rate and a colour wavelength range which depends on its temperature.
Air temperatures have their origin in the absorption of radiant energy from the sun.
The total radiation received from the sun of a horizontal surface at the level of the ground for a serene day is the sum of the direct and diffuse radiations.
Below is a graph showing the change in the intensity of solar radiation with a change in sun altitude.