What is a Pyranometer?

A pyranometer is a scientific instrument designed to measure solar radiation flux density (W/m²) from a hemispherical field of view. It is widely used in meteorology, climatology, solar energy studies, and agriculture to assess sunlight intensity and availability.

How a Pyranometer is Used to Measure Solar Radiation

Operating on the thermoelectric principle, a pyranometer detects sunlight using a blackened sensor that absorbs radiation. The temperature difference between the sensor and its environment generates a voltage signal, which is converted into irradiance values. Modern pyranometers are calibrated for high accuracy and are often paired with data loggers for continuous monitoring.

For a deeper understanding of its functionality, a pyranometer is used to measure solar irradiance effectively in both research and industrial applications.

Key Applications

Pyranometers are essential in solar power plants for efficiency calculations, in weather stations for climate data collection, and in agriculture to monitor crop light exposure. They also support architectural design for optimizing natural lighting.

Common Questions

What does a pyranometer measure exactly?

It measures global horizontal irradiance, which includes both direct and diffuse solar radiation.

How is it different from a pyrheliometer?

While a pyranometer measures total sunlight, a pyrheliometer tracks direct solar beams only.

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