ATMOSPHERIC DYNAMICS

CHAPTER 2:

SOLAR AND INFRARED

RADIATION
(Part II)
Atmospheric Dynamics

Chapter 2: Radiation

ÍNDICE

1. Introduction
Radiation source
2. Radiation principles
Propagation; emission; distribution; absorption, reflection and transmission
3. Orbit of the Earth
Seasonal cycle, daily cycle
4. Heat flux and distribution of solar radiation
Definition of flux, distribution, average daily insolation
5. Surface radiation budget
Solar (shortwave), terrestrial (longwave or IR), net radiation
Atmospheric Dynamics

Chapter 2: Radiation

4. Heat flux and distribution of solar radiation

Definition of flux and consequences
Atmospheric Dynamics

Chapter 2: Radiation 4. Heat flux and distribution of solar radiation

The flux, ℑ , is the rate of transfer of a quantity (mass, heat, radiation, momentum,
energy) per unit area (perpendicular to the direction) per unit time.

Amount = ℑ⋅ A ⋅ ∆t
A
( ℑx ℑ y ℑz )
Mass flux  S.I.: (kg·m-2·s-1)
Heat flux  S.I.: (J·m-2·s-1) or (W·m-2) ; Amount = ΔQH

A flux is a measure of the amount of inflow or outflow such as through the side of a fixed volume
(Eulerian frameworks).

1. Introduction 2. Radiation Principles 3. Orbit of the Earth 4. Heat flux, 5. Surface radiation budget
Atmospheric Dynamics

Chapter 2: Radiation 4. Heat flux and distribution of solar radiation

Kinematic form Easily measured quantities

Kinematic mass flux, F Kinematic heat flux, F H

by dividing by the air density, ρair. by dividing by both air density , ρair, and the
It equals the wind speed. specific heat for air, Cp, which yields a
quantity equal to temperature times wind
speed.
ℑ ℑH S.I.: (K·m·s-1)
F= S.I.: (m·s-1) F =
ρ air
H
ρ air ⋅ C p

For dry air at sea level:

⋅ C pd 1231 (W ⋅ m−2 ) ( K ⋅ m ⋅ s −1 )
ρair =
−1
= 12.31mb ⋅ K= 1.231kPa ⋅ K −1

Heat fluxes:
- Radiative fluxes
- Advective fluxes
- Turbulent fluxes
- Conductive fluxes

1. Introduction 2. Radiation Principles 3. Orbit of the Earth 4. Heat flux, 5. Surface radiation budget
Atmospheric Dynamics

Chapter 2: Radiation 4. Heat flux and distribution of solar radiation

Distribution of solar radiation

Radiative flux (E = irradiance), such us the solar irradiance or solar constant: is the
amount of energy crossing a unit area that is perpendicular to the path of the radiation.

2
R
Distribution of solar constant: S= S0 ⋅  
R

If the surface is not perpendicular to the radiation, then the radiation per unit surface
area is reduced according to the sine law:

ℑrad = E ⋅ sin ( Ψ ) (W·m-2)

Ψ  elevation angle of the Sun on
the surface of the Earth
or

E
Frad= ⋅ sin ( Ψ ) (K·m·s-1)
ρ ⋅Cp

1. Introduction 2. Radiation Principles 3. Orbit of the Earth 4. Heat flux, 5. Surface radiation budget
Atmospheric Dynamics

Chapter 2: Radiation 4. Heat flux and distribution of solar radiation

Average daily insolation

The average solar insolation (incoming solar radiation) at any location is the solar
constant that has been modified to account both:
- the solar elevation angle
- the duration of the daylight.

2
S a
E = 0 ⋅   ⋅  h0′ ⋅ sin (φ ) ⋅ sin (δ s ) + cos (φ ) ⋅ cos (δ s ) ⋅ sin ( h0 )  (W·m-2)
π R  

 S0 = 1368 W·m2  solar irradiance

 a = 149.457 Gm  Earth’s semi-major axis length
 R  actual distance for any day of the year
 h0’  sunset and sunrise hour angle in radians

Hour angle h0 at sunrise and sunset:

cos ( h0 ) =
− tan (φ ) ⋅ tan (δ s )

1. Introduction 2. Radiation Principles 3. Orbit of the Earth 4. Heat flux, 5. Surface radiation budget
Atmospheric Dynamics

Chapter 2: Radiation

ÍNDICE

1. Introduction
Radiation source
2. Radiation principles
Propagation; emission; distribution; absorption, reflection and transmission
3. Orbit of the Earth
Seasonal cycle, daily cycle
4. Heat flux and distribution of solar radiation
Definition of flux, distribution, average daily insolation
5. Surface radiation budget
Solar (shortwave), terrestrial (longwave or IR), net radiation
Atmospheric Dynamics

Chapter 2: Radiation

5. Surface radiation budget

Solar (shortwave), terrestrial (longwave
or IR), net radiation

1. Introduction 2. Radiation Principles 3. Orbit of the Earth 4. Heat flux, 5. Surface radiation budget
Atmospheric Dynamics

Chapter 2: Radiation 5. Surface radiation budget

Net radiative flux, , positive upward, perpendicular to the earth’s surface:

- Incident downwelling solar radiation, K ↓ (shortwave)

TRANSMISSION (clouds)

- Reflected upwelling solar radiation, K ↑(shortwave)

REFLECTION (albedo)

1. Introduction 2. Radiation Principles 3. Orbit of the Earth 4. Heat flux, 5. Surface radiation budget
Atmospheric Dynamics

Chapter 2: Radiation 5. Surface radiation budget

Net radiative flux, , positive upward, perpendicular to the earth’s surface:

- Incident downwelling solar radiation, K ↓ (shortwave)

TRANSMISSION (clouds)

- Reflected upwelling solar radiation, K ↑(shortwave)

REFLECTION (albedo)
- Emitted from the Earth radiation, I ↑ (longwave, IR)
EMISSION (temperature)
- Emitted from the atmosphere radiation, I ↓(longwave,
IR) TRANSMISSION AND REFLECTION

1. Introduction 2. Radiation Principles 3. Orbit of the Earth 4. Heat flux, 5. Surface radiation budget
Atmospheric Dynamics

Chapter 2: Radiation 5. Surface radiation budget

Net radiative flux, , positive upward, perpendicular to the earth’s surface:

1. Introduction 2. Radiation Principles 3. Orbit of the Earth 4. Heat flux, 5. Surface radiation budget
Atmospheric Dynamics

Chapter 2: Radiation 5. Surface radiation budget

1) Incident shortwave radiation

Solar irradiance  S = 1366 ± 7 W·m-2 (or S = 1.125 K·m·s-1), at the top of the
atmosphere. −2
E= S= 1368 W ⋅ m
Radiation reaching the surface of the Earth
Sine law: to find the component of downwelling solar flux that is perpendicular to
he surface, K↓

S · sin(ψ)

 C ⋅ tUTC 
sin (=
Ψ ) sin (φ ) ⋅ sin (δ s ) − cos (φ ) ⋅ cos (δ s ) ⋅ cos  − λe 
 td 
1. Introduction 2. Radiation Principles 3. Orbit of the Earth 4. Heat flux, 5. Surface radiation budget
Atmospheric Dynamics

Chapter 2: Radiation 5. Surface radiation budget

1) Incident shortwave radiation

Radiation reaching the surface of the Earth

Solar irradiance is attenuated between the top of the atmosphere and the
surface by the presence of clouds.

Tr is the net sky transmissivity.

K ↓= ℑrad ⋅ Tr = − S ⋅ Tr ⋅ sin(ψ ) Day

K ↓= 0 Night

1. Introduction 2. Radiation Principles 3. Orbit of the Earth 4. Heat flux, 5. Surface radiation budget
Atmospheric Dynamics

Chapter 2: Radiation 5. Surface radiation budget

1) Incident shortwave radiation

Net sky transmissivity

Depends on:
 Path length through the atmosphere.
 Atmospheric absorption characteristics.
 Cloudiness

One approximation for the net transmissivity is:

 σH, σM y σL: cloud cover fraction for high, middle, and low clouds. They
vary between 0 and 1.

1. Introduction 2. Radiation Principles 3. Orbit of the Earth 4. Heat flux, 5. Surface radiation budget
Atmospheric Dynamics

Chapter 2: Radiation 5. Surface radiation budget

2) Reflected shortwave radiation

Reflection in the Earth surface

Of the sunlight reaching the surface, a portion might be reflected:

K ↑= − A ⋅ K ↓

 A is the surface albedo

1. Introduction 2. Radiation Principles 3. Orbit of the Earth 4. Heat flux, 5. Surface radiation budget
Atmospheric Dynamics

Chapter 2: Radiation 5. Surface radiation budget

3) Emitted from the earth radiation

Upward emission of IR radiation from the Earth’s surface depend on his temperature
and type of surface. It can be found from the Stefan-Boltzmann relationship.

↑ eIR ⋅ σ SB ⋅ T 4 (W·m-2 )
I=

eIR  surface emissivity in the IR portion of the spectrum (Table)

 σSB = 5.67·10-8 W·m-2·K-4 Stefan-Boltzmann constant

1. Introduction 2. Radiation Principles 3. Orbit of the Earth 4. Heat flux, 5. Surface radiation budget
Atmospheric Dynamics

Chapter 2: Radiation 5. Surface radiation budget

4) Emitted from the atmosphere radiation

Flujo neto de onda larga en la atmósfera (IR)

Downward IR radiation from the atmosphere is difficult to calculate.
As alternative, a net longwave flux is defined:

I ∗ = I ↓ + I ↑ (W·m-2 )
One approximation for this flux is:

I ∗ = b ⋅ (1 − 0.1 ⋅ σ H − 0.3 ⋅ σ M − 0.6 ⋅ σ L ) (W·m-2 )

 b = 98.5 W·m-2 (or b = 0.08 K·m·s-1 in kinematics units).

 σH, σM y σL: cloud cover fraction for high, middle, and low clouds. They vary
between 0 and 1.

1. Introduction 2. Radiation Principles 3. Orbit of the Earth 4. Heat flux, 5. Surface radiation budget
Atmospheric Dynamics

Chapter 2: Radiation 5. Surface radiation budget

NET SURFACE RADIATION

ℑ(t ) = K ↓ (t ) + K ↑ (t ) + I ↓ (t ) + I ↑ (t ) = K ↓ (t ) + K ↑ (t ) + I * (t )

K ↓= ℑrad ⋅ Tr = − S ⋅ Tr ⋅ sin(ψ )
Tr = ( 0.6 + 0.2 ⋅ sin ( Ψ ) ) (1 − 0.4 ⋅ σ )(1 − 0.7 ⋅ σ )(1 − 0.4 ⋅ σ )
H M L

K ↑= − A ⋅ K ↓
I ∗ = b ⋅ (1 − 0.1 ⋅ σ H − 0.3 ⋅ σ M − 0.6 ⋅ σ L )

(W·m-2 )
Day

Nigth (W·m-2 )

1. Introduction 2. Radiation Principles 3. Orbit of the Earth 4. Heat flux, 5. Surface radiation budget
ATMOSPHERIC DYNAMICS

CHAPTER 2:

SOLAR AND INFRARED

RADIATION