How does cloud cover affect the amount of radiation that reaches the ground?

How does cloud cover affect the amount of radiation that reaches the ground?

When it reaches the Earth, some is reflected back to space by clouds, some is absorbed by the atmosphere, and some is absorbed at the Earth’s surface. However, since the Earth is much cooler than the Sun, its radiating energy is much weaker (long wavelength) infrared energy.

Do clouds prevent solar radiation from reaching the ground?

The dark rain-laden clouds are not reflective but they nevertheless intercept the nearly all of the Sun’s radiation and prevent it from reaching the surface. The dark clouds themselves would be warmed by the absorbed radiation and some of absorbed energy would be re-radiated toward the surface.

What factors affect the amount of solar energy that reaches the Earth’s surface?

Latitude, climate, and weather patterns are major factors that affect insolation—the amount of solar radiation received on a given surface area during a specific amount of time. Locations in lower latitudes and in arid climates generally receive higher amounts of insolation than other locations.

What effect does the Earth’s surface have on solar radiation?

Thus, the proportion of Earth’s surface that is covered by ice and snow affects how much of the Sun’s solar radiation is absorbed, warming the planet, or reflected. Therefore, snow and ice which are covered in soot from pollution no longer reflect sunlight, but absorb it and so melting increases.

What is the relationship between solar radiation and cloud cover in the sky?

Explanation: There is an inverse relationship between insolation and cloud cover in sky. This is because of sunshine duration records are caused by sun being obstructed by transparent cloud cover.

What happens to sunlight that hits earth’s surface?

Once the sun’s energy reaches earth, it is intercepted first by the atmosphere. A small part of the sun’s energy is directly absorbed, particularly by certain gases such as ozone and water vapor. Some of the sun’s energy is reflected back to space by clouds and the earth’s surface.

What are the three main factors that affect Earth’s solar budget?

The total solar influx, depending on distance from the sun, angle of the planet’s axis and solar activity. Albedo – or reflections of solar rays from the Earth and back into space. Chemical composition of the atmosphere.

What percentage of solar radiation reaches the Earth?

70 percent
The incoming solar radiation is known as insolation. The amount of solar energy reaching the Earth is 70 percent. The surface of the Earth absorbs 51 percent of the insolation. Water vapor and dust account for 16 percent of the energy absorbed.

How does cloud cover affect solar UV radiation?

Having a cover of cloud over the sky can reduce the amount of UV radiation reaching the earth’s surface. This is particularly the case when there are significant levels of cloud cover. However it would be wrong to assume that some level of cloud cover means that the UV level is below a level that requires protection.

Why does a cloud reflect more radiation than the surface?

Because a cloud usually has a higher albedo than the surface beneath it, the cloud reflects more shortwave radiation back to space than the surface would in the absence of the cloud, thus leaving less solar energy available to heat the surface and atmosphere.

How are clouds related to the Earth’s atmosphere?

Usually, the higher a cloud is in the atmosphere, the colder is its upper surface and the greater is its cloud greenhouse forcing. If the Earth had no atmosphere, a surface temperature far below freezing would produce enough emitted radiation to balance the absorbed solar energy. But the atmosphere warms the planet and makes Earth more livable.

How does the environment affect solar energy generation?

The immediate surroundings of a project site also has a big impact on the level of solar radiation reaching solar energy systems. Vegetation, buildings, even certain landscape features such as hills can block incoming radiation and cast a shadow, drastically reducing the usable solar radiation.