i) Describe the term solar constant E0 and state its magnitude. ii) Describe the term air mass coefficient (AM)
4) a) Approximately half of the 174 petawatts of solar radiation incident on the upper atmosphere reaches the Earth’s surface. The intensity of solar radiation (solar irradiance W/m2 ) received at any location on Earth varies with latitude, time of day, time of year, local weather and air pollution. The power density of this global irradiance is always less than the solar constant E0.
i) Describe the term solar constant E0 and state its magnitude.
ii) Describe the term air mass coefficient (AM) and explain how it relates to levels of global irradiance at a given location
iii) What does global solar irradiance refer to and what levels would you expect at solar noon with clear sky conditions for the summer and winter solstices in Ireland?
iv) What causes greatest uncertainty and variability for solar irradiance levels and predictions?
v) Describe standard test conditions (reference solar conditions) used for rating and testing solar PV technology.
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