3rd Virtual Meeting

AgEng01 – Agricultural Meteorology,

Irrigation and Drainage
Lesson 2: Solar Radiation
Prepared by: Engr. Fatima P. Gumamac
Instructor I
March 23, 2022
Learning Outcomes

At the end of the lesson, the students should be able

to:
1. Describe the various regions of the Sun and
their functions
2. Explain the importance of solar radiation on
the activities of Earth
3. Describe the three relevant bands of solar
radiation
THE SUN
The Sun

 the nearest star to the earth

 its radiant energy is practically the only energy source
to the earth.
 The mean sun-earth distance, also known as one
astronomical unit (1 AU), or 1.496 x 108 km.
 The earth revolves round the sun in an elliptical orbit
The Sun

 The minimum sun-earth distance is about 0.983 AU

and the maximum approximately 1.017 AU.
 The earth is at its closest point to the sun
(perihelion) on approximately January 3
 its farthest point (aphelion) on approximately July 4
 The visible disk or photosphere has a radius of 6.599
x 105 km, and the solar mass is 1.989 x 1030 kg
The Sun

 The sun is a completely gaseous body

 The chemical composition of the outer layers is (by
mass) 71 percent hydrogen, 26.5 percent
helium, and 2.5 percent heavier metals.
 Its physical structure is complex, although several
regions, including the core, photosphere, reversing
layer, chromosphere, and corona, are well
recognized.
Regions of the Sun

Core
➢ the densest and the hottest part of the sun
➢ composed of highly compressed gases at a
density of 100 to 150 g cm-3
➢ The core temperature is in the range of 15 x 106 to
40 x 106 °C.
Regions of the Sun
Interior

➢ contains practically all of the sun’s mass

➢ The core and interior are thought to be a huge nuclear
reactor in which fusion reactions take place
➢ These reactions supply the energy radiated by the
sun.
➢ The most important reaction is the processes by
which hydrogen is transformed to helium.
Regions of the Sun

Photosphere

➢ surface of the sun

➢ is the source of most of the visible radiation arriving at
the earth’s surface
➢ the crust that is visible to the naked eye when looking
at the sun through a blue glass
Regions of the Sun

Photosphere

➢ composed of very low-density gases

➢ The temperature in this region is 4000 to 6000°C
➢ the source of radiation flux to space because it has
the capability to emit and absorb a continuous
spectrum of radiation.
Regions of the Sun

Solar Atmosphere

➢ several hundred kilometers deep and almost

transparent
➢ referred to as the reversing layer.
➢ this layer contains vapor of almost all of the known
elements found on the earth.
Regions of the Sun

Chromosphere
➢ about 25000 km deep
➢ It is seen from the earth only during a total eclipse
when it appears as a rosy color layer
➢ It is in this zone that the short-lived, brilliant solar
flares occur in the clouds of hydrogen and helium
➢ The temperature in the chromosphere is several
times higher that that of photosphere
Regions of the Sun

Corona
➢ composed of extremely rarefied gases known as
the solar winds
➢ These winds are believed to consist of very sparse
ions and electrons moving at very high speeds and
are thought to extend into solar system
➢ The corona can be seen during a total eclipse. It
has a temperature on the order of 1,800,000 K.
The Sun

 The sun rotates at a rate that is variable in depth and

latitude. As measured by the motion of sunspots, the
synodic period is 26.24 days.
 It is estimated to be 4.5 billion years old by NASA
 When it was formed, the sun was 6 percent smaller
and 300 K cooler, and its irradiance was 40 percent
lower than present-day values.
Variation occurring in the Sun

Sunspots

 Found in the photosphere

 These are patches varying in diameter from a few
thousand to 100,000 kilometers, with an emission
temperature in the center about 1500 K lower than that
of the undisturbed photosphere.
 spots first appear near 27° latitude in both hemispheres.
As the cycle proceeds, they drift equatorward and
disappear close to 8° latitude.
Variation occurring in the Sun

Faculae

➢ Network of enhanced photospheric emission that

surrounds a sunspot
➢ These photospheric emissions have longer
lifetimes than the associated sunspot group,
appearing before and disappearing after the spots
themselves
Variation occurring in the Sun

Flocculi or plages

 other disturbances that are typical features in

hydrogen light (H-alpha).
 they occur at high latitudes, where spots do not.
 Solar flares occur when a hydrogen flocculus near a
spot will brighten up.
 They are associated with great increases of Lyman
alpha and other ultraviolet radiations
Variation occurring in the Sun

Prominences

 photospheric eruptions extending into the

chromosphere.
 typical prominence might be 30000 km high and
200000 km long, with a temperature of 5000 K.
Solar Radiation
Solar Radiation

 radiant (electromagnetic) energy from the sun

 provides light and heat for the Earth and energy for
photosynthesis
 radiant energy is necessary for the metabolism of
the environment and its inhabitants
Solar Radiation

 The three relevant bands, or ranges, along the

solar radiation spectrum are ultraviolet, visible
(PAR), and infrared.

Of the light that reaches Earth’s surface:

 infrared radiation makes up 49.4%
 visible light provides 42.3%.
 Ultraviolet radiation makes up just over 8%
Solar Radiation

Factors that affect the amount and intensity of solar

radiation received by a location:

 Latitude
 Season
 Time of day
 Cloud cover
 Altitude
Solar Radiation

 Not all radiation emitted from the sun reaches

Earth’s surface. Much of it is absorbed, reflected or
scattered in the atmosphere.
 At the surface, solar energy can be absorbed
directly from the sun, called direct radiation, or
from light that has been scattered as it enters the
atmosphere, called indirect radiation
Solar Radiation

 Solar radiation is measured in wavelengths or

frequency.
 wavelength is defined as the distance from peak
to peak and is measured in nanometers (nm).
 Frequency is defined as wavelength cycles per
second and is expressed in hertz (Hz).
 shorter wavelengths produce higher frequencies.
Longer wavelength produce lower frequency.
Solar Radiation

 The energy of the wavelength increases with the

frequency and decreases with the size of the
wavelength.
 shorter wavelengths are more energetic than
longer ones.
 This means that ultraviolet radiation is more
energetic than infrared radiation.
Solar Radiation

 Due to this extra energy, shorter wavelengths tend

to cause more harm than longer wavelengths.
 The more energy a wavelength has, the easier it is
to disrupt the molecule that absorbs it.
 Ultraviolet light (which has the highest energy) can
cause damage to DNA and other important cellular
structures.
The Electromagnetic Spectrum

 The electromagnetic spectrum encompasses all types

of radiation.
The Electromagnetic Spectrum

 The part of the spectrum that reaches Earth from

the sun is between 100 nm and 1 mm.
 Ultraviolet contains wavelengths between 100-
400 nm.
 Visible light falls within the range of 400-700 nm
 Infrared light contains wavelengths from 700 nm
to over 1 mm.
The Electromagnetic Spectrum

 In the visible light spectrum, the colors are

determined by the length.
 Longer wavelengths appear red while shorter
wavelengths are blue/violet as they range closer to
the ultraviolet spectrum.
Ultraviolet Radiation

 Ultraviolet radiation can be separated into three

wavelength ranges: UV-A, UV-B and UV-C.
 All wavelengths of ultraviolet light can directly
affect the DNA as well as generate harmful
photochemical.
 The shorter the wavelength, the more damage it is
capable of causing.
Ultraviolet Radiation

UV-C (100 - 280 nm)

 makes up 0.5% of all solar radiation, but can cause
the most damage to organisms.
 most of this short-wave radiation is absorbed by
stratospheric gases (ozone), and very little reaches
the surface.
Ultraviolet Radiation

UV-B (280-315 nm)

 is an energetic band of radiation that is only
partially absorbed in the stratosphere.
 known for causing skin cancer in humans, and can
impair photosynthesis in many plants.
Ultraviolet Radiation

UV-B (280-315 nm)

 The depth that UV-B penetrates water is dependent
on turbidity and water chemistry.
 UV-B will reach greater depths in saline water than
in freshwater and can reach as deep as 20m below
the surface of the ocean.
Ultraviolet Radiation

UV-A (315-400 nm)

 hasless energy than UV-B, and is not absorbed
by ozone in the atmosphere.
 can be blocked from the surface by cloud cover.
 UV-A is also called blacklight, and is known for its
ability to cause fluorescence in some materials.
 responsible for sunburns in humans.
Ultraviolet Radiation

UV-A (315-400 nm)

 it can penetrate bodies of water deeper than UV-
B or UV-C.
 UV-A can significantly decrease photosynthesis
by more than 70%, more inhibiting than UV-B.
 UV-A decreases the efficiency of electron
transport which in turn decreases photosynthetic
production.
Infrared Light

 is on the opposite side of the spectrum from

ultraviolet light.
 has a wavelength of >700 nm and provides
49.4% of solar energy.
 Infrared radiation is readily absorbed by water
and carbon dioxide molecules and converted to
heat energy.
 The longer wavelengths cause heat by exciting
electrons in the substances that absorb them.
Infrared Light

 responsible for warming Earth’s surface.

 is reflected more than UV or visible light due to its
longer wavelengths.
 This reflection allows infrared radiation to transfer
heat between the surface, water and the air.
Infrared Light

 In a body of water, 90% of infrared radiation is

absorbed in the first meter of the water’s surface,
and only 1% can reach past two meters in pure
water.
 This is why the surface of most bodies of water are
warmer than the depths.
Photosynthetically Active Radiation
(PAR)
 is the light wavelength range that is best fit for
photosynthesis to occur.
 Photosynthesis is a process that requires light
energy and optimally occurs in the 400 to 700
nanometer (nm) range.
 This range is also known as visible light
Photosynthetically Active Radiation

 Visible light encompasses the electromagnetic

spectrum from visible blue/violet to red.
 Blue light has a higher energy and shorter
wavelength than green or red light.
 Red light has the lowest energy in the visible
spectrum.
Photosynthetically Active Radiation

 As visible light reaches Earth, a surface will

absorb or reflect different wavelengths,
producing a visible color.
 The wavelength reflected by a surface is the
color that it appears to be.
 If the surface reflects all of the visible
wavelengths, it will appear white.
Photosynthetically Active Radiation

 Most plants appear green as the chlorophyll in their

cells reflects green light.
 Water often appears blue as this color travels the
deepest before being absorbed.
 While on land, plants use nearly all of the visible
range for photosynthesis.
 However, even underwater when only blue light is
available, photosynthesis can still occur.
Why are Solar and Photosynthetically
Active Radiation Important?
 Solar radiation provides heat, light, and energy
necessary for all living organisms.
 Infrared radiation supplies heat to all habitats, on
land and in the water.
 Without solar radiation, Earth’s surface would be
about 32°C colder.
 Light is also provided by solar radiation.
Why are Solar and Photosynthetically
Active Radiation Important?
 Although the main benefit of photosynthesis is
energy for the plant, it has other important
results.
 Oxygen is a byproduct of photosynthesis.
 The process ensures that more oxygen is
produced than is used up by organisms in the
surrounding environment.
What is Photosynthesis?

 is the process by which plants and other

organisms, also known as photoautotrophs, use
energy from sunlight to produce glucose.
 This process can occur both on land and
underwater.
What is Photosynthesis?

 Glucose is a kind of sugar that is later converted

into Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP) via cellular
respiration.
 ATP is an energy-bearing molecule that is used
in the metabolic reactions of living organisms.
 This molecule is a necessity in almost all
organisms.
What is Photosynthesis?

 Photoautotrophs use sunlight, six carbon dioxide

molecules, and twelve water molecules to
produce one molecule of glucose, six oxygen
molecules, and six water molecules.
 This reaction reduces carbon dioxide levels in
the air or water while producing glucose for ATP.
What is Photosynthesis?

 Photosynthesis can occur underwater as long as

enough light is available.
 In the ocean, significant amounts of
photosynthetically active radiation can be detected
as deep as 200 m below the surface.
 Within this euphotic zone (sunlight zone),
photosynthesis can occur.
Why can’t Photosynthesis use UV or
Infrared Light?
 Visible light is the only band of light on the
spectrum to be considered photosynthetically
active.
 It has the perfect amount of energy to excite the
electrons needed to start photosynthesis and not
damage DNA or break bonds.
 Ultraviolet cannot be used for photosynthesis
because it has too much energy.
Why can’t Photosynthesis use UV or
Infrared Light?
 On the other side of the spectrum, infrared light
does not contain much energy.
 The insufficient energy does not excite electrons
in molecules enough to be used for
photosynthesis.
 Infrared light is converted to thermal energy
instead.
Solar Irradiance
Solar Irradiance

 Radiant energy can be measured in joules, though

it is more commonly measured as radiant flux, or
radiant power, which is expressed as energy over
time.
 The basic unit of power is the watt (joules/second).
 The sun emits
384,600,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 watts
(3.846 x 1026 W).
Solar Irradiance

 The energy that reaches Earth is measured as

solar irradiance (energy per second over a
square meter), and is measured in watts per
meter squared (W/m²).
 the intensity of solar energy that reaches the top of
Earth’s atmosphere (directly facing the sun) is
1,360 W/m².
What Influences Solar Irradiance?

The solar irradiance received by a particular location

or body of water depends on:
 elevation above sea level,
 the angle of the sun (due to latitude, season
and time of day) and
 scattering elements such as clouds.
What Influences Solar Irradiance?

Elevation

 The higher the elevation, the shorter the path from

the atmosphere.
 This can mean a higher irradiance, though not
warmer temperatures.
 This intense radiation contributes to the arid
climates, and the thinner air means more UV
radiation reaches the surface at these altitudes.
What Influences Solar Irradiance?

Angle of the Sun

 The lower the angle of the sun, the larger
amount of ozone the light has to pass through.
 This is also factor in ultraviolet irradiance. Ozone
absorbs UV light and can reduce radiation
intensity.
 The angle of the sun is dependent on latitude,
time of year, and time of day.
What Influences Solar Irradiance?

Angle of the Sun

 The distance that radiation has to travel will be at

its lowest when the sun is directly overhead.
What Influences Solar Irradiance?

Angle of the Sun

 This is why the annual net solar irradiance is

greater over the equator than over the northern
and southern latitudes.
 Solar irradiance will decrease as a hemisphere is
tilted away from the sun.
What Influences Solar Irradiance?

Scattering elements
 Cloud coverage and air pollution can also reduce the
amount of radiation that reaches Earth’s surface.
 Clouds and aerosols in the atmosphere can scatter
and absorb all radiation bands.
 As cloud cover increases, the angle of the sun
becomes less important when measuring irradiance.
What Influences Solar Irradiance?

Scattering elements
 Thisis due to the increase of radiation diffusion
(scattering).
 Increased cloud cover decreases irradiance,
causing sunlight to feel less intense.
 On these days solar radiation still reaches
Earth’s surface, simply with a lower irradiance.
How much light actually reaches the
Earth’s surface?
How much light actually reaches the
Earth’s surface?
 The sun’s radiation must make it through multiple
barriers before it reaches Earth’s surface.
 The first barrier is the atmosphere.
 About 26% of the sun’s energy is reflected or
scattered back into space by clouds and
particulates in the atmosphere.
 Another 18% of solar energy is absorbed in the
atmosphere.
How much light actually reaches the
Earth’s surface?
 Ozone absorbs ultraviolet radiation, while carbon
dioxide and water vapor can absorb infrared
radiation
 The remaining 56% of solar radiation is able to
reach the surface.
 However, some of this light is reflected off of snow
or other bright ground surfaces, so only 48% is
available to be absorbed by land or water.
How much light actually reaches the
Earth’s surface?
 Of the radiation that reaches the surface,
approximately half is visible light and half is
infrared light.
 These reflection and absorption percentages can
vary due to cloud cover and sun angle.
 In cloudy weather, up to 70% of solar radiation can
be absorbed or scattered by the atmosphere.
Consequences of Unusual Levels

 Unusually high or low levels of sunlight can

cause problems for both land and water habitats.
 Too much ultraviolet light can cause irreversible
damage to DNA and important photosynthetic
structures, while too much infrared light can
cause overheating.
Consequences of Unusual Levels

 On cloudy days, or if a previously sunny location

becomes shaded, photosynthetic production can
be halted.
 Not only does this stop oxygen production, but it
increases oxygen consumption through plant
respiration.
QUESTIONS?