SUN AND ENERGY

THE SOURCE AND STRENGTH

Insolation, incoming solar radiation, at the upper atmosphere of the earth is 174 petawatts, which is 174, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000 (17415) watts of raw power. Out of this, one third is reflected back and the balance is absorbed by the land masses, the oceans and the clouds. Solar radiation on the oceans causes evaporation and rain, winds and such other natural phenomena. Sunlight keeps the surface of the earth at an average temperature of 14o Centigrade. Green plants convert solar energy into chemical energy providing us with food, wood and bio-mass which is the basis of our fossil fuels.

The energy we get from the sun is difficult to estimate. Approximately 3, 850, 000 exajoules of energy is absorbed by earth's atmosphere in a year. This is about twice as much as we would ever get from all the Earth's non renewable sources of energy including coal, oil, natural gas and mined uranium.

It takes just one hour of sunlight to provide a year's worth of energy for every man, woman and child on planet Earth. Solar energy is good for the environment, it is a much cheaper source of energy to use over time, it can reach anywhere in the world, and best of all, it is renewable. Unlike fossil fuels, we will never run out of light from the sun. With the cost savings, the benefit to the environment, and the positive social and economic effects, solar energy has the power to transform the world.