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— Direct solar beam - have specific directions, from sun to earth's surfaces - 17 %
— Diffuse radiation from clouds - 21 % and from sky - 7 % (comes from all directions of the hemisphere)
— Reflectivity is the reflected fraction of incident radiation at specific wavelength.
— Albedo (α) is the reflection over the entire solar spectrum (the whole range of wavelengths).
Examples:
— Snow is very reflective to visible and completely reflective to infrared radiation. Albedo is 1 or 100 %.
In leaves, there is less absorption and more reflection for the green light in the visible spectrum, compared to blue and red light, where reflection is much less, causing the leaves to be appeared as green.
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EzraDirect solar radiation refers to sunlight that reaches the Earth's surface in a straight line from the sun, while diffuse solar radiation is sunlight that reaches the Earth's surface after being scattered by the atmosphere. Direct radiation is more intense and has a fixed direction, while diffuse radiation is less intense but more evenly distributed.
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Who invented the pyranometer?
The pyranometer was invented by Angström in 1893. It is a device used to measure solar radiation, specifically the direct and diffuse components of sunlight.
What is a pyranometer?
A pyranometer is a device used to measure solar radiation. It measures the total solar radiation received from the sun at a specific location in watts per square meter. Pyranometers are commonly used in meteorology, climatology, solar energy research, and agriculture.
What are 3 ways the atmosphere moves energy?
Convection: Warm air rises and cool air sinks, creating vertical movement of energy. Conduction: Energy is transferred through direct contact between the atmosphere and Earth's surface. Radiation: Solar energy is absorbed by the atmosphere and re-emitted as infrared radiation.
What is the instrument used for measuring sunlight?
A pyranometer is an instrument used to measure the total solar radiation received from the sun, typically expressed in watts per square meter. It is designed to capture both direct and diffuse sunlight.
What does direct sunlight mean?
Direct sunlight refers to sunlight that is not obstructed or filtered by any barriers, such as clouds, buildings, or trees, and shines directly on a surface. It provides the strongest levels of solar radiation and heat.
