solar insolation
Solar insolation refers to the amount of solar energy that reaches a given area of the earth's surface over a certain period of time. It is usually measured in units of watts per square meter (W/m2). Insolation is affected by factors such as the time of day, season, latitude, altitude, and atmospheric conditions, such as cloud cover or air pollution. Insolation is important in various fields, including solar energy research, agriculture, and climate modeling.
Solar insolation is the amount of solar radiation received per unit area on Earth's surface. It is typically measured in watts per square meter (W/m²) or kilowatt-hours per square meter per day (kWh/m²/day). The term "insolation" stands for incoming solar radiation.
Solar insolation varies depending on various factors such as time of day, geographical location, season, atmospheric conditions, and solar panel orientation. The greatest amount of solar insolation is typically received at noon when the sun is directly overhead.
To calculate solar insolation, one needs to consider the angle at which the sunlight hits the Earth's surface (known as the solar zenith angle), the distance the sunlight travels through the atmosphere, and the amount of atmospheric absorption and scattering that occurs. These factors can be influenced by latitude, altitude, cloud cover, and pollution levels.
Solar insolation is an important parameter for solar energy systems as it helps to determine the amount of energy that can be harnessed from sunlight. It is used in the design and optimization of solar panels, solar power plants, and solar thermal systems.