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Solar Radiation at The Earth's Surface
Solar Radiation at The Earth's Surface
While the solar radiation incident on the Earth's atmosphere is relatively constant, the radiation at the
Earth's surface varies widely due to:
• atmospheric effects, including absorption and scattering;
• local variations in the atmosphere, such as water vapour, clouds, and pollution;
• latitude of the location; and
• the season of the year and the time of day.
These changes include variations in the overall power received, the spectral content of the light and the
angle from which light is incident on a surface.
In addition, a key change is that the variability of the solar radiation at a particular location increases
dramatically.
The variability is due to both local effects such as clouds and seasonal variations, as well as other effects
such as the length of the day at a particular latitude.
Desert regions tend to have lower variations due to local atmospheric phenomena such as clouds.
Equatorial regions have low variability between seasons.
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Solar radiation received at the earth’s surface
Diffuse radiation :
The radiation reaching earth’s surface after having been scattered from the
direct solar beam by molecules in the atmosphere.
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The total solar radiation is the sum of the beam (B) and
Global solar radiation diffuse solar (D) radiation on a surface (Eq. 5.1). The
most common measurements of solar radiation are total
radiation on a horizontal surface, often referred to as
global radiation on the surface.
G= B+ D
Ib
Id
Ir
• The highest values estimated over the entire country are about 300
langleys in Gujarat in July, while the minimum values, between 75 and
100 langleys, are measured over several parts of the country in
November and December as winter sets.
Instruments used for measuring solar radiation
• The amount of solar radiation on the earth surface can be
instrumentally measured, and precise measurements are important for
providing background solar data for solar energy conversion
applications.