About 6% of the shortwave energy that comes from the sun is actually absorbed by clouds on a cloudy day.
stratus
Because clouds are opaque.
It depends on how cloudy the sky is and what type of clouds there are. Of course bright sunny days are the best. Still, a considerable amount of light gets through clouds. Ultraviolet light shines through clouds. If solar panels could be designed to pick up ultraviolet, then they would work fine on cloudy days.
The sun's rays shine throught the clouds.
On cloudy days, the greatest percentage of insulation from reaching the Earth's surface is primarily kept by the presence of cloud cover, which reflects and scatters sunlight. Clouds absorb and re-radiate some of the solar energy back into space, reducing the amount of direct sunlight that reaches the ground. Additionally, the thickness and type of clouds can significantly influence the extent of this effect, with thicker clouds generally blocking more insulation.
On a cloudy day, the amount of sunlight reaching the surface is significantly reduced compared to a clear day. Clouds scatter and absorb sunlight, resulting in diminished direct sunlight and a cooler overall temperature. However, some diffuse sunlight still penetrates through the clouds, providing a softer light environment. Overall, the intensity and quality of sunlight are lower on cloudy days.
Mount Waialeale in Hawaii is known to have the most cloudy days in a year. Its peak is often covered in clouds due to its location and weather patterns, receiving an average of over 350 rainy days annually.
Clouds need humidity to form and deserts generally have very low relative humidities.
Average: 178 days per year of sun exposure; with 98 of those days recorded as full sun exposure (no clouds). The remaining 80 of those days were recorded as partly sunny, partly cloudy, or (mixed) cloudy with rain and/or some sun in the day.
there are about 230 days that are cloudy
Because Michigan is known as the Great Lakes state and when the water evaporates the clouds move and shift.
Yes, under the proper conditions, clouds can and do form over deserts.