Distribution Of Solar Energy On Earth

Some of the radiation is absorbed by the atmosphere while some is reflected by the atmosphere and clouds.

Distribution of solar energy on earth.

The greater the angle the greater the amount of thermal energy that reaches the ground per unit of surface area. In approximately 5 billion years. There are several things that can happen to the sun s energy as it reaches our planet. The solar constant is a measure of flux density is the amount of incoming solar electromagnetic radiation per unit area that would be incident on a plane perpendicular to the rays at a distance of one astronomical unit au roughly the mean distance from the sun to earth.

Of total solar radiation on a global scale is divided in terms of intensity into four broad belts around the earth. The sun is generally considered to produce a constant amount of power although there are small variances in the output energy depending on sunspot cycles with a surface intensity of expressed in units of power per unit area as the sun s rays spread into space this radiation becomes less and less intense as an inverse square law. Nuclear fusion deep within the sun releases a tremendous amount of energy that is slowly transferred to the solar surface from which it is radiated into space. The planets intercept minute fractions of this energy the amount depending on their size and distance from the sun.

This contrasts with centralized generation where solar electricity is produced by a large plant and then distributed to consumers through a power distribution network grid. The sun s radiation reaches the earth in a non homogeneous way because of its interaction with the atmosphere and the angle of incidence of sunrays. 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. The earth s surface reflects a small percentage of the sun s energy but the vast majority is absorbed by the surface of the earth.

The energy from sun is distributed by radiation and convection. Calculating solar energy to surface energy from sun to earth. Distribution of solar radiations the sun will illuminate and heat the earth until its hydrogen reserves are depleted i e. Earth s energy balance will enable you to understand radiative equilibrium.

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. These are illustrated in figure 2 and also described briefly hereunder with respect to the northern hemisphere with the understanding that the same conditions apply to. Solar electricity produced by households using rooftop systems is referred to as distributed solar. The amount of solar energy that reaches the earth s surface depends on different factors the most important of which is the magnitude of the angle formed between the direction of the sun s rays and the surface itself.

You will also be able to recognize that the temperature of earth depends on the a. The solar constant includes all types of solar radiation not just the visible light.