Diffuse sky radiation

High school (ages 12+)
Environment & Earth

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/diffuse-sky-radiation

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. How long is Diffuse sky radiation?Rayleigh scattering is strongly dependent on wavelength (λ⁻⁴), favoring blue light
2. What is the dominant scattering mechanisms?Rayleigh scattering (by molecules) and Mie scattering (by aerosols/droplets)
3. What is the ecological impact?Enhances under-canopy photosynthesis by improving light penetration
4. Why is the sky blue?Because small air molecules scatter blue light more than red light, making the sky look blue during the day.
5. How does diffuse light help plants grow?Diffuse light spreads evenly and can reach lower leaves in a forest, giving all parts of the plant more light to make food.

Diffuse Sky Radiation: Solar radiation reaching the Earth's surface after undergoing scattering in the atmosphere.
Rayleigh Scattering: Elastic scattering of electromagnetic radiation by particles much smaller than the wavelength of the radiation.
Mie Scattering: Elastic scattering of electromagnetic radiation by particles of comparable size to the wavelength of the radiation.
Diffuse Horizontal Irradiance (DHI): The amount of solar radiation received on a horizontal surface from the diffuse component of sunlight.