Solar Energy And The Atmosphere Pdf

It is an essential source of renewable energy and its technologies are broadly characterized as either passive solar or active solar depending.

Solar energy and the atmosphere pdf.

The second highest energy is also mostly stopped in the atmosphere. The highest energy ultraviolet does not reach the planet s surface at all. Solar energy is radiant light and heat from the sun that is harnessed using a range of ever evolving technologies such as solar heating photovoltaics solar thermal energy solar architecture molten salt power plants and artificial photosynthesis. The remainder of the energy passes through the atmosphere with much of it 51 units being absorbed by the earth s surface.

Only about 7 of solar radiation is in the uv wavelengths. When it reaches the earth some is reflected back to space by clouds some is absorbed by the. Incoming short and intermediate wavelength radiation may be absorbed by gases in the atmosphere reflected back into space from the atmosphere or earth s surface or absorbed by earth s surface. 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.

The atmosphere and its elements clouds particles molecules reflect about 26 units back out to space and absorb another 19 units. Energy released from the sun is emitted as shortwave light and ultraviolet energy. Of the solar energy that reaches the outer atmosphere uv wavelengths have the greatest energy. Solar radiation and the atmosphere solar radiation occurs in a range of wavelengths represented by the electromagnetic spectrum.

The amount of solar energy received at the top of our atmosphere.