Insolation and Temperature The atmosphere is primarily transparent to shortwave
ID: 297887 • Letter: I
Question
Insolation and Temperature
The atmosphere is primarily transparent to shortwave radiation and reactive to longwave radiation. The Earth’s surface emits longwave radiation that slowly warms the atmosphere above the surface of the Earth, and in turn, the lower atmosphere helps to reheat the Earth’s surface. Thus, the relationship between insolation and air temperature is not direct, there is a lag effect. The warmest time of day does not occur at the moment of maximum insolation, but rather at the time when this insolation has been absorbed and emitted to the atmosphere from the ground.
Encanto Golf Course is a lush, green golf course located in central Phoenix, approximately 8 miles northwest of Sky Harbor Airport. The following table lists insolation and temperature readings taken at Encanto Golf Course on June 26, 1990.
6. What time of day is solar radiation at a maximum?
Why is the insolation zero during some hours of the day
What time does the maximum air temperatures occur?
What time does the minimum air temperature occur?
Hour Insolation (W/m^2) Air Temperature (F) 0200 0 80 0400 0 81 0600 11 79 0800 256 87 1000 767 105 1200 961 110 1400 967 114 1600 742 116 1800 367 115 2000 19 110 2200 0 104 2400 0 94Explanation / Answer
6. At 1400 hours the solr radiation is maximum.
The insolation is maximum during some hours which infers that it is the night time.
At time 1600 hours the temperature went to its highest level.
At time 0200 hours the temperature was minimum.