Solar Energy In The Atmosphere

When it reaches the earth some is reflected back to space by clouds some is absorbed by the atmosphere and some is absorbed at the earth s surface.

Solar energy in the atmosphere.

It is measured perpendicularto the incoming sunlight. Total solar irradiance tsi is a measure of the solar powerover all wavelengths per unit area incident on the earth s upper atmosphere. Solar energy systems power plants do not produce air pollution water pollution or greenhouse gases. Passive solar energy techniques take advantage of this natural heating and cooling process.

Homes and other buildings use passive solar energy to distribute heat efficiently and inexpensively. The total solar energy absorbed by earth s atmosphere oceans and land masses is approximately 3 850 000 exajoules ej per year. The atmosphere in particular filters out over 70 of solar ultraviolet especially at the shorter wavelengths. In 2002 this was more energy in one hour than the world used in one year.

The approximate average value cited 1 3608 0 0005 kw m which is 81 65 kj m per minute is equivalent to approximately 1 951 calories per minute per. Using solar energy can have a positive indirect effect on the environment when solar energy replaces or reduces the use of other energy sources that have larger effects on the environment. The transfer of heat energy within the atmosphere hydrosphere and the earth s surface and interior occurs as a result of radiation convection and conduction. The three types are.

Energy released from the sun is emitted as shortwave light and ultraviolet energy. The lowest energy travels through the atmosphere to the ground. Photosynthesis captures approximately 3 000 ej per year in biomass. The earth atmosphere energy balance is the balance between incoming energy from the sun and outgoing energy from the earth.

Sunlight at the top of earth s atmosphere is composed by total energy of about 50 infrared light 40 visible light and 10 ultraviolet light. Temperature differences in the atmosphere are a result of the way solar energy is absorbed as it moves through the atmosphere. At night when the sun sets and the atmosphere has cooled the materials release their heat back into the atmosphere. Only about 7 of solar radiation is in the uv wavelengths.

The thermosphere or the upper atmosphere is the height region above 85 km while the region between the tropopause and the mesopause is the middle atmosphere stratosphere and mesosphere where absorption of solar uv radiation generates the temperature maximum near 45 km altitude and causes the ozone layer. Of the solar energy that reaches the outer atmosphere uv wavelengths have the greatest energy. Solar irradiance is measured by satellites above earth s atmosphere and is then adjusted using the inverse square law to infer the magnitude of solar irradiance at one astronomical unit au to evaluate the solar constant.