Insolation

 3 Basic sources of earth heat energy:

 Solar energy
 Endogenetic forces
 Gravity.
 The received energy from sun in the form of EMR, called Insolation.
 Insolation: incoming solar radiation.
 1.2(1/2) ?? billionth part of total energy radiated from sun reach towards earth, which
is equivalent to 23 trillion Horse power.
 Solar constant: Rate at which energy is received on a surface at the outer edge of
earth’s atmosphere perpendicular to sun’s rays, when earth is at average distance from
sun. Actually it is not a constant, as it varies slightly according to sun;s radiation
output varies. The duration of sunspot cycle is 11 year.
 Average solar constant: 1.96 Gram Cal/ cm2/ min or 1 Langley / min.
 Surface temp of sun is 60000C(110000F).
 Sun rays take 8 Min 20 Sec to reach earth.
 Radiation from sun towards earth = incoming shortwave solar radiation.
 Radiation from earth towards sun = outgoing longwave terrestrial radiation.
 Terrestrial radiation also called effective radiation as it helps in heating the lower
portion of atmosphere.
 Solar spectrum:
 Gama rays, Hard x rays, Soft x rays, Ultra violet, Violet, Blue, Green, Yellow, Red,
 First Spectrum Visible Spectrum
 Infrared (0.7 - 300 microns) Micro wave (0.3 - 1.0 cm), Radar wave, Radio waves. ?
Third Spectrum Fourth Spectrum
 Visible spectrum carry 41 % of total energy of solar spectrum.
 Heat: Form of energy transferred bw difference system due to difference in temp.
 Temperature: Degree of hotness or coldness of a substance as measured by a
thermometer.
 Who invented barometer? E. টরিসেলি
 On the basis of latitudinal insolation:-
 Low latitude/ Tropical zone (Bw? 23.50 N to 23.50 S):
 Received highest amount of insolation.
 Little seasonal variation of insolation.
 Temp. 20 - 270 C.
 Each place experience maximum and minimum insolation twice in a year.
 Middle latitude zone (23.50 N/S to 660 N/S?):
 Each place experience maximum insolation once (21 June in N and 22 Dec in
S hemisphere) and minimum insolation once (21 March in N and 23 Sep in S
hemisphere) in a year.
 Seasonal variation increase with increase in latitude.
 Insolation is never absent at any time in a year.
 Polar zone (660 N/S to 900 N/S):
 Each place experience maximum and minimum insolation once in a year.
 Sometime insolation is absent.
Factor Affecting the Distribution of Insolation:-
1) Angle of sunrays:
2) Length of day: angle of sunrays control insolation more effectively than
length of day.

3) Distance between Earth and Sun:

 Average distance is 149 million km.
 Perihelion (3 Jan): earth is nearest to the sun, 91.5 million miles (1.47 million
km).
 Aphelion (4 July): earth is furthest from the sun, 94.5 miles (152 million km).
 Perihelion receive 7 % more insolation than Aphelion.
4) Sunspots:
 Sunspots cycle 11 year.
 During every 11th year there is maximum no of sunspots and hence maximum
insolation.
5) Effects of atmosphere:
 Absorption: 14% is absorbed by gases (by ozone in stratosphere to larger
extent and oxygen and co2 to very limited extent), water vapour, haze etc.
 Scattering: 23% (6% is sent back to space and 17% reaches earth surface) is
scattered in atmosphere by dust particle and haze; process of diffuse of a
portion of incoming solar radiation in different direction by dust particle and
molecules of gases including water vapour.
 Scattering when diameter of dust particle and gaseous molecules <
wavelengths of solar radiation.
 Blue is more scattered than red, that’s why sky looks blue.
 Reddish hue of sky during sunrise and sunset scattering of all color except red
and orange.
 Reflection:?

 Global radiation: Total solar radiation reaching a horizontal surface on the ground
(direct sunrays +diffuse radiation scattered by atmosphere).
 Albedo (reflection coefficient/ reflectivity): Portion of incident radiation reflected
back from a surface of a body.
 Atmospheric window: Any wavelengths at which solar radiation can pass through the
atmosphere and reach the earth’s surface. ?
 Chromosphere: Thin layer of burning gases around photosphere.
 Corona: Outermost zone of sun’s atmosphere characterized by very hot (1 to 2 million
degree kelvin) and rarefied gases.
 Counter-radiation: Process of radiation of terrestrial heat by atmosphere back to earth
surface.
 Diffuse blue (day) light: Portion of scattered and diffused solar radiation reaching
earth surface.
 Faculae: Cool and hot spots within photosphere of sun.
 Net radiation: Difference between total incoming solar radiation and total outgoing
terrestrial radiation.
 Solar wind: Stream of electrons and protons released from photosphere into
chromosphere and corona of the sun.