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Isolation is the amount of solar energy, direct or diffuse, reaching a surface per unit of time. More precisely, insolation is the solar powerdensity incident on a surface of stated area and orientation, usually expressed as watts per square meter (W/m2) or BTU per square foot per hour. The word is a contraction of "incident solar radiation;" not to be confused with insulation.

Insolation values for a specific site are sometimes difficult to obtain. Weather stations that measure solar radiation components are located far apart and may not carry specific insolation data for a given site. Furthermore, the information most generally available is the average daily total - or global - radiation on a horizontal surface. To learn more about solar and other resource data, visit the external sites listed below.

When sunlight reaches the Earth, it is distributed unevenly in different regions. Not surprisingly, the areas near the equator receive more solar radiation than anywhere else on Earth. Sunlight varies with the seasons, as Earth's rotational axis shifts to lengthen and shorten days with the changing seasons. For example, the amount of solar energy falling per square meter on Yuma, Arizona, in June is typically about nine times greater than that falling on Caribou, Maine, in December. The quantity of sunlight reaching any region is also affected by the time of day, the climate (especially the cloud cover, which scatters the sun's rays), and the air pollution in that region. Likewise, these climatic factors all affect the amount of solar energy that is available to photovoltaic systems.

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Related Questions

What is the term for solar radiation that reaches the earth's surface?

The solar radiation that reaches the earths surface from the sun is called INSOLATION


How is solar heat distributed around earth?

Solar heat is distributed around earth by conduction.


What function provides insolation?

The function that provides insolation is solar radiation, specifically solar energy received by the Earth's surface. Insolation is the amount of solar radiation reaching a specific area over a given time period. It is an essential factor in understanding climate and ecosystems.


What is the term given to the sun's energy that reaches the earth?

Insolation, or solar radiation.


What does insolation stand for?

Insolation stands for incoming solar radiation, which refers to the amount of solar energy that reaches a specific area on the Earth's surface over a given period of time. The level of insolation can vary depending on factors such as time of day, season, latitude, and atmospheric conditions.


What is intercepted solar?

intercepted solar or intercepted insolation are part of the sun rays or power that was prevented to reaching solar panel on earth surface, a) dust b) humidity c) cloud d) rain. these factors either disperse or absorb the solar insolation thereby intercepting it reaching the earth surface or the panel.


What term is used to describe incoming solar radiation?

25% is absorbed by clouds.25% is reflected by clouds.45% is absorbed by the earth's surface.5% is reflected by the earth's surface.So 50% reaches the surface of the earth (But 5% of that is reflected).


What are the similarities between insolation and Terrestrial radiation?

Both insolation and terrestrial radiation involve the transfer of energy from the sun to the Earth. They are both forms of electromagnetic radiation, with insolation being solar radiation that reaches the Earth's surface and terrestrial radiation being the heat energy emitted by the Earth back into the atmosphere.


A change in Earth's total insolation would be caused by what?

Sunspots


What is the difference between radiation and insolation?

Radiation refers to the emission of energy in the form of electromagnetic waves or particles. Insolation specifically refers to the amount of solar radiation received by a specific area, typically measured over a given period of time. In essence, insolation is a subset of radiation, focusing solely on solar energy reaching the Earth's surface.


How does insolation affect earth?

Insolation, or incoming solar radiation, affects the Earth by providing energy for processes such as photosynthesis, evaporation, and the Earth's climate system. It plays a key role in driving weather patterns, ocean currents, and the overall climate of the planet. Changes in insolation can impact global temperatures and have implications for ecosystems and agriculture.


Intercepted solar radiation is called?

Insolation is intercepted solar radiation.