Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Solar Energy – Solar Forcing

Measure of the variations in the quantity of sunlight emitted by the Sun refers to solar variation. Solar variations are time dependent. There are recurring as well as non-recurring solar variations. Solar activity, during recent decades, is calculated by means of satellites. Weather and upper space scientists are concerned with identifying the aftermaths of solar activity on Earth. The impacts of solar activity resulting from solar activity are called 'solar forcing'.

Solar variations remained unidentifiable at or below the level to be noticeable until the satellite age. These are calculated at an average of 1,366 watts per square meter at the upper Earth atmosphere. There are no direct findings of the long-term changes. These variations range from ~ 0.1% over last 2000 years to ~ 0.2% just since 17th century. These together with volcanic effects have most probably added to the environmental changes. Solar magnetic activity impacts on environment, from cosmic rays or ultraviolet radiations, can not be ruled out let alone solar brilliance variations.

The first ever recorded solar variations are the changes noticed in the Sun as sunspots. Comparatively dark regions on the radiating surface of the Sun, where strong magnetic activity slows down convection and cools the surface, are sunspots. Cyclic changes in behavior of the Sun are solar cycles of which 11 and 22 years are mostly identifiable. For longer solar cycles the impact is higher, resulting in higher frequencies caused by the thermal inertia of the ocean. Solar irradiance varies gradually for longer time period which during recent activity ha been measured to about 0.1%. Variations in the ultraviolet radiations' energy results in loss of ozone and has climatic effects. Intense magnetic fields and solar wind decrease the radiations coming to the Earth. Cloud formation is assumed to have been changed due to cosmic radiations. Change in the electromagnetic fields at the surface of the planet is the result of the interaction of particles in the Sun, and the Sun's and the Earth's magnetic field. Electrical devices are also affected by powerful solar events.

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