SOLAR RADIATION AND

EARTH’S ENERGY BALANCE

Solar radiation (short wavelength) warms
the earth. Earth radiates some of that energy (long
wavelength) back towards space. Incoming energy must equal
outgoing energy to keep things in balance. escaped back into
space, Earth's surface would be very, very COLD!
 SOLAR RADIATION

 Solar radiation is radiant energy emitted by

the sun from a nuclear fusion reaction that creates
electromagnetic energy. ... About half of
the radiation is in the visible short-wave part of the
electromagnetic spectrum. The other half is mostly
in the near-infrared part, with some in the ultraviolet
part of the spectrum.
 A solar radiation sensor measures solar energy from the sun.

Solar radiation is radiant energy emitted by the sun from a

nuclear fusion reaction that creates electromagnetic energy. The
spectrum of solar radiation is close to that of a black body with a
temperature of about 5800 K. About half of the radiation is in the
visible short-wave part of the electromagnetic spectrum. The
other half is mostly in the near-infrared part, with some in the
ultraviolet part of the spectrum.

The units of measure are Watts per square meter.

The device is typically used in agricultural applications, and is used

in the calculation of Evapotranspiration. Evapotranspiration is the
potential for evaporation of moisture from the soil (or the reverse
of rainfall) and is a function solar energy, wind and temperature.
 Earth's Energy balance

 Earth's Energy balance describes how the

incoming energy from the sun is used and returned
to space. If incoming and outgoing energy are
in balance, the earth's temperature remains
constant. Why do I care? The energy
balance drives the weather and life on earth.