There is a direct correlation between the amount of sunlight that lands on the earth and the earth’s ability to produce energy. The more sunlight, the more energy! However, over a certain angle, the sunlight can start to hurt the earth rather than help it and make use of the precious sunlight more difficult. These angles are known as the “solar angle,” and they are caused by the position of the sun in relation to the earth. The earth’s axis is tilted at an angle of 23.5 degrees with respect to the sun, which brings about the four seasons. This difference in angle between the sun and the earth causes the days to get shorter as the year goes on. In the Northern Hemisphere, the days are shortest in the winter and increase as you travel south. These days are known as the winter solstice, and this is when the solar angle becomes its smallest. Since the days are now of equal length, the amount of sunlight that lands on the earth is at its maximum. The opposite is true in the Southern Hemisphere, where the days are longest, and the solar angle is at its highest point right after the summer solstice. As a result of this difference in angle, the amount of solar energy that reaches the earth is at its minimum during the winter and increases as you travel north. This is one of the major factors that contribute to seasonal variation in the amount of energy produced on earth. To put it simply, the Northern and Southern Hemispheres experience a difference in the amount of sunlight (and thus energy) that falls on the earth, which can be more than 200 days a year!
Nowadays, thanks to modern technology and the use of renewable energy sources, we no longer have to rely on seasons to determine when to harvest our solar energy. However, even with these advancements, the need for more sustainable energy sources and alternative power plants remains.
The Effect of Angle On The Amount Of Solar Energy
The earth’s axis is tilted at an angle of 23.5 degrees with respect to the sun, which causes the four seasons. As a result, the amount of solar energy (and thus heat) that reaches the earth is not constant, but oscillates between its maximum and minimum levels. The angle between the sun and the earth affects the amount of solar energy that lands on the earth and determines where on the globe the seasons are located. The closer the angle is to 90 degrees, the more direct the sunlight will be and the more heat it will produce. At these extreme angles, the sun is said to be overhead, and there is no sun at all during the day, which can cause the temperature to drop significantly.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, when the sun and the earth are at an angle of 0 degrees, it will be as if the sun wasn’t even there, and nothing will grow due to lack of sunlight. The closer the angle is to 0 degrees, the more the solar energy will be in the form of heat rather than light and will be difficult to capture and use directly. In these situations, some sort of reflecting surface may be used to capture the sunlight and convert it into usable energy. These situations are typically found in very high-altitude locations, such as the Andes or the Alps, due to the fact that the atmosphere is thick enough to reduce the amount of solar heat lost to space. The closer the angle is to 90 degrees, the less heat is lost to space and the more heat is retained on the planet. Let’s take a quick look at some of the angles that fall within this range and how much energy they can produce:
45 To 59.9 Degrees:
This range starts at 45 degrees and ends at 59.9 degrees. At 45 degrees, the sun is directly overhead, and there is no shade at all. The closer this angle gets to 45 degrees, the more direct the sunlight will be, which can cause temperatures to rise significantly.
As you move towards 59.9 degrees, the sun starts to settle and dip towards the horizon, which start to grow in size as you move northward along the equator. In the southern parts of the United States, for example, this portion may be known as the sunset angle.
60 Degrees And Higher:
This range begins at 60 degrees and goes all the way up to a high of 86.4 degrees. At these extreme angles, the sun is setting at all times and no amount of daylight savings time can save you from the dark.
As the sun starts to set at these angles, temperatures drop significantly, and the atmosphere starts to get thin. This portion of the altitude range is typically found in the vicinity of the Himalayas, where there is a lot of sunlight during the day, but at night, the temperatures can fall to an unbearable level. In these situations, it is not uncommon for the inhabitants to depend on fireplaces, oil lamps, and candles to light their homes during the day and save them from darkness at night. These angles are also known as the “wintertime” angles and were popularized by the winter sport of Skiing. The closer the angle is to 86.4 degrees, the lower the viscosity of the air, which makes for better skiing and other winter sports.
As you can see, the closer the angle is to 90 degrees, the more direct the sunlight will be, and the more abundant it will be. This makes it easier to grow crops and other vegetation, which provides us with food and oxygen.
Overall Takeaway:
The earth’s axis is tilted at an angle of 23.5 degrees with respect to the sun, which brings about the four seasons. This difference in angle between the sun and the earth causes the days to get shorter as the year goes on. In the Northern Hemisphere, the days are shortest in the winter and increase as you travel south. These days are known as the winter solstice, and this is when the solar angle becomes its smallest. Since the days are now of equal length, the amount of sunlight that lands on the earth is at its maximum during the winter and increases as you travel north. The opposite is true in the Southern Hemisphere, where the days are longest in the summer and the solar angle is at its highest point right after the summer solstice. As a result of this difference in angle, the amount of solar energy that reaches the earth is at its minimum during the winter and increases as you travel north. This is one of the major factors that contribute to seasonal variation in the amount of energy produced on earth. To put it simply, the Northern and Southern Hemispheres experience a difference in the amount of sunlight (and thus energy) that falls on the earth, which can be more than 200 days a year!