Solar radiation

Salt

La solar radiation It is a very important variable that is used to understand the heat that we receive from the sun on the surface of the earth. Depending on factors such as wind, cloud cover and the season of the year, the amount of solar radiation we receive is greater or less. It has the ability to heat the ground and the surface of an object, but barely heats the air. There are different types of solar radiation depending on its source and characteristics.

In this article we are going to tell you everything you need to know about solar radiation and its importance for the atmosphere.

What is solar radiation

solar radiation

It is the flow of energy that the sun receives in the form of electromagnetic waves of different frequencies. Among the frequencies that we find in the electromagnetic spectrum, the most famous are visible light, infrared light and ultraviolet light. We know that almost half of the solar radiation that the earth receives has a frequency between 0,4 μm and 0,7 μm. This type of radiation can be detected by the human eye and constitutes the visible light band as we know it.

The other half is mainly in the infrared part of the spectrum and a small part is in the ultraviolet part. To measure the amount of radiation we receive from the sun, an instrument called a pyranometer is used.

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solar

Depending on the source and characteristics of solar radiation, there are different types. We will focus on defining the different types and their main characteristics:

Direct solar radiation

It is the one that comes directly from the sun and has almost no change of direction. You can see that it is affected by the wind, but the impact is not significant. On windy days, you can feel the loss of heat. On the surface, when there is strong wind, the influence of heat is not so great. A main characteristic of this type of radiation is that it can cast light shadows from any opaque object that intercepts it.

Diffuse solar radiation

It is the part of the radiation that reaches us from the sun and is reflected or absorbed by the cloud. Because they spread out in all directions, they are called diffuse reflections. This process occurs due to reflection and absorption, not only from clouds, but also from some particles that float in the atmosphere. These particles are called atmospheric dust and they can spread solar radiation. Too It is called diffuse reflection because it will be deflected by objects such as mountains, trees, buildings, and the ground. itself, depending on its structure.

The main characteristic of this type of radiation is that it does not cast shadows on the inserted opaque objects. Horizontal surfaces are those where there is a lot of diffuse radiation. The situation is the opposite for vertical surfaces, because there is hardly any contact.

Reflected solar radiation

It is a type that reflects the surface of the earth. Not all the radiation that reaches us from the sun is absorbed by the surface, but some of it is deflected. This amount of radiation deflected from the surface is called albedo. Due to climate change and the melting of the polar ice caps, the terrestrial albedo has increased enormously.

Horizontal surfaces will not receive any kind of reflected radiation because they cannot see any land surface. The situation with diffuse solar radiation is the opposite. In this case, the vertical surface receives the greatest amount of reflected radiation.

Global solar radiation

It can be said that it is the total amount of radiation existing on earth. It is the sum of the three previous types of radiation. Let's take an example of a completely sunny day. Here we will obtain a direct radiation superior to diffuse radiation. Nevertheless, no direct radiation on cloudy days, but all incident radiation is diffuse.

How it affects life and Earth

how solar radiation works

If our planet receives a lot of solar radiation, life will not appear as it is now. The energy balance of the earth is zero. This means that the amount of solar radiation that the earth receives is the same as the amount of solar radiation that it emits into outer space. Nevertheless, some nuances must be added. If so, the temperature on earth will be -88 degrees. Therefore, something is needed that can retain this radiation and make the temperature level comfortable and habitable so that it can support life.

The greenhouse effect is an engine that helps the solar radiation that falls on the earth's surface to remain in large quantities. Due to the greenhouse effect, we can have habitable conditions on earth. When solar radiation reaches the surface, almost half return to the atmosphere, expelling it into outer space. Some of the radiation that returns from the surface is absorbed and reflected by atmospheric clouds and dust. However, the amount of radiation absorbed is not sufficient to maintain a stable temperature.

This is the source of greenhouse gases. It is a variety of gases that can retain part of the heat radiated from the earth's surface and return the radiation that reaches the earth to the atmosphere. Greenhouse gases include: water vapor, carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrogen oxides, sulfur oxides, methane, etc. With the increase in greenhouse gases caused by human activities, the impact of solar radiation on the environment, flora, fauna and humans has become increasingly harmful.

The sum of all types of solar radiation is radiation that allows life on earth. Let us hope that the problem of increasing greenhouse gases can be alleviated and that the situation does not become dangerous.

I hope that with this information you can learn more about solar radiation and its importance for life.


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