Information AboutInsolation |
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Insolation is the incoming Solar Radiation that reaches a planet and its atmosphere or, by extension, any object exposed to solar rays, such as Watt s per Square Meter of Sun-facing cross section, across the entire Electromagnetic Spectrum ; most of that power is in the Visible Light portion of the spectrum. On Earth's surface, the Sun's rays are attenuated by the atmosphere. The midday insolation on clear days in Temperate Latitude s may be estimated as 1000 watts per square meter directly facing the Sun. The actual figure varies with the Sun angle at different times of year (because the Sunlight must travel through varying distances of Air ), and with atmospheric haze and cloud cover. Long-term time-averaged insolation in sunny locations is closer to 250 watts per square meter, taking into account the lower insolation in early Morning and Evening , and the presence of Night . The insolation into a fixed surface (such as a Window or Roof ) depends on the projected area of the surface perpendicular to the incoming sunlight, not directly on the area of the surface. This is the reason that the Polar Region s are much colder than Equatorial Region s on Earth: on an annual average the poles receive less insolation than does the equator, because the Earth's surface at the poles never faces the Sun directly. The projection effect can also be used in through the sky spans over 45 degrees through the year). See also External links
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