Solar irradiance

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/solar-irradiance

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. What is the scientific definition?Power per unit area received from the Sun as electromagnetic radiation
2. What is the standard unit of measurement?Watts per square meter (W/m2)
3. Why does solar irradiance change over time?Solar irradiance changes because the Sun’s distance from Earth changes a little each year and because the Sun’s activity, like sunspots and flares, changes its energy output. These changes can be seen in the total solar irradiance (TSI).
4. How does solar irradiance help plants?Plants use solar irradiance to make food through photosynthesis. The light energy is turned into sugars that feed the whole food chain.

Electromagnetic Spectrum: The range of all types of electromagnetic radiation, including visible light, infrared, and ultraviolet.
Total Solar Irradiance (TSI): The total amount of solar electromagnetic radiation received per unit area at the top of Earth's atmosphere.
Atmospheric Scattering: The process by which radiation is deflected in multiple directions by particles in the atmosphere.