Insolation and Temperature The atmosphere is primarily transparent to shortwave
ID: 297899 • 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.a) Solar insolation is the measure of solara energy incident over a unit area in unit time is on the upper atmosphere.The radiation depends on angle of incienent of sun rays morninig and evening time the sun rays incident horizontally and has less radiation and in midd after noon the incident angle is vertical and the radiation is more. So the incicdent radiation is more around 12 to 14 hrs
b) Time batween 2.00 to 4.00 hrs the insolation is zero because the insolation depends on latittude and incident agnle.
In june month the inccident angle more at the latitude of Encanto Golf Course is more and and the sun rays does not reach the surface on the palce at the time 2.00 to 4.00.
c) The maximum air temperature occure around 14.00 to 18.00 hrs. This is because the earth receive maximum long radiation at the time between 12.00 to14.00 hr and warms the air some amount at the time the incident energy reflected back as short wave radiation and this short wave radiation further increase in temperature some later time that is at 14.00 to18.00 hrs of the day.
d) The minimume air temperature occure at the time around 2.00 to 6.00. This is because the insolation is very low at this time and so it less warms the air at this time.