Highest Annual insolation

2009-03-01 9:23 am

Which region (please state the degree of the latitude) receives the highest amount of annual (overall) insolation??

Some says 23.5N/S has the highest amount of annual insolation because there is no or very little cloud cover, but some says the equatorial region receives the highest amount of annual insolation because this region is always having a large angle of the sun so the insolation received annually is quite constant, despite the thick cloud cover.

Very confused, please state the reasons for why the region is receiving the highest amount of annual insolation.

Thanks a lot!!

回答 (1)

kuen

2009-03-04 1:48 am

✔ 最佳答案

Actually, areas along the equator receives most of the insolation. It is because it has the greatest angle of sun'ray. Also, due to the heavy cloudiness, solar energy can be absorbed by the earth surface and water vapour in both short-wave and long-wave forms. Additionally, the overhead sun is at the equator at equinoxes(March&September). There is a little season variation.
Some people argue that 23.5N/S has the highest amount of annual insolation because there is no or very little cloud cover, but that's not true. 23.5N receives many sunlight at spring and 23.5Sreceives many sunlight at autumn but both area receive less sunlight for the rest of the year so it's not true to say they has the highest amount of AUUNAL insolation. Also, clouless sky does help the area to have a larger insolation input. Cloudless sky may help the solar energy be reflected to the space easily.

Some useful information:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/2410121/Insolation
(Keep clicking on the slide)

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