what is meant by solar radiation and insolation?
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Answer:
Insolation is the incident solar radiation onto some object. Specifically, it is a measure of the solar energy that is incident on a specified area over a set period of time. Generally insolation is expressed two ways. ... Not all of the solar energy that reaches the Earth actually reaches the surface of the Earth.
Irradiance is an instantaneous measurement of solar power over some area. ... Insolation is a measurement of the cumulative energy measured over some area for a defined period of time (e.g., annual, monthly, daily, etc.). The common unit of insolation is kilowatt hours per square meter.
Generally the absorbed solar radiation is converted to thermal energy, which causes the object to heat up. ... Thus understanding insolation (the amount of energy that hits an area) is important in maximizing the output of solar panels which absorb and convert this energy.
Solar insolation is defined as the flux of solar radiation per unit of horizontal area for a given locality. It depends primarily on the solar zenith angle and to some extent on the variable distance of the earth from the sun. The flux density at the top of the atmosphere may be expressed by.