Sunshine duration

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/sunshine-duration

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 primary measurement unit?Hours of bright sunshine per day or per year
2. What is the key differentiator?Measures duration of direct sunlight, distinct from total solar energy (insolation)
3. How is sunshine duration different from insolation?Sunshine duration counts how long the sun is visible, while insolation measures the total energy the sun delivers.
4. Why do desert places have more sunshine?Deserts have high-pressure, clear skies, so they get more sunny hours than cloudy regions.

Sunshine Duration: The cumulative time a location receives direct, unobstructed solar radiation, averaged over multiple years.
Insolation: The total amount of solar energy (radiant flux) incident upon a surface over a specified period.
Climatological Indicator: A quantifiable metric used to characterize the typical weather patterns and climate of a geographical area.
Campbell-Stokes Sunshine Recorder: A historical instrument that uses a glass sphere to focus sunlight and burn a trace on a card.