Solar radiation:

Solar radiation is the total frequency spectrum of electromagnetic radiation produced by the sun. Solar radiation is radiant energy emitted by the sun from a nuclear fusion reaction that creates electromagnetic energy. The spectrum of solar radiation is close to that of a black body with a temperature of about 5800 K. About half of the radiation is in the visible short-wave part of the electromagnetic spectrum. The other half is mostly in the near-infrared part, with some in the ultraviolet part of the spectrum.

Solar radiation Keeping aircraft safe during geomagnetic storms

A solar flare erupts on the Sun's northeastern hemisphere at 3:49 UT on January 23, 2012. (Photo courtesy NASA.) February 7, 2012 | When a geomagnetic storm blasted Earth on January 24, commercial airlines redirected a handful of flights were originally routed to fly over the North Pole. This was necessary to avoid potential communications lapses and protect crews and passengers from excessive radiation at high latitudes. Behind the scenes, NCAR scientists play a role in safety precautions such as these. Solar physicists Michael Wiltberger and Stanley Solomon are helping

develop a tool for NAIRAS (Nowcast of Atmospheric Ionizing Radiation System), a NASA-funded computer model that provides global, real-time predictions of harmful atmospheric radiation levels at altitudes where commercial airlines fly. The system is currently a prototype model, but once fully developed it will help protect airline crews from solar radiation, especially during geomagnetic storms.

PERFORMANCE PLOT:
The heat comes from the sun through solar radiation depends not only the distance but also with the position of the earth. The suns radiated radiation transmits heat but as the intensity of radiation depends on the surfaces position. If the surface is normal to the suns radiation then there the intensity is high. Because in the equation (1) the solar radiation constant depends with , where, is the angle between the surface normal and the direction of the radiation. So as the value of increase the solar constant increase and as a result the intensity increase because we know at 90 the value is maximum as well as the intensity. With the increase of intensity the amount of transmitted heat increases.

Figure: Solar radiation on earth. At point 1 and 3 the angle of the normal of the surface and direction of radiation is 90, so the radiations intensity is maximum. But at point 2 and 4 the angle of the normal of the surface and direction of radiation is minimum, so the radiations intensity is minimum.

SOLARRADIATION DEPENDING ON THE GEOGRAPHYCAL POSITION:

Due to the change of geographical position the intensity of the radiation is either increase or decrease. As the location of any place from the equator increase towards north pole or south pole the solar radiation decreases. In other word we can say as the zenith angle increases the intensity of the radiation increases.

Figure: change of solar radiation due to the position on earth surface. The solar radiation spectrum The electromagnetic radiation emitted by the sun shows a wide range of wavelengths. It can be divided into two major regions with respect to the capability of ionizing atoms in radiation-absorbing matter: ionizing radiation (X-rays and gamma-rays) and no ionizing radiation (UVR, visible light, and infrared radiation). Fortunately, the highly injurious ionizing radiation does not penetrate the earth's atmosphere. Solar radiation is commonly divided into various regions or bands on the basis of wavelength (Table 1). Ultraviolet radiation is that part of the electromagnetic spectrum between 100 and 400 nm. It is, in turn, divided rather arbitrarily from the viewpoint of its biological effects into three major components (Fig. 1). Table 1. Spectral bands of incoming solar energy and atmospheric effects.

Fig.1. Spectra of no ionizing solar radiation (A) and ultraviolet radiation (B) showing main radiation bands, their nomenclature, and approximate wavelength limits. other synonyms: UV-A, black light; UV-B, sunburn or erythemal radiation; UV-C, germicidal radiation (compiled from WHO 1979; Parmeggiani 1983; Harvey et al. 1984).

Atmospheric interventions Solar radiation is partially depleted and attenuated as it traverses the atmospheric layers, preventing a substantial portion of it from reaching the earth's surface. This phenomenon is due to absorption, scattering, and reflection in the upper atmosphere (stratosphere), with its thin layer of ozone, and the lower atmosphere (troposphere), within which cloud formations occur and weather conditions manifest themselves (Table 1) (Brooks and Miller 1963, McVeigh 1977 Sabins 1978; Michels 1979; WHO 1979). The stratospheric ozone layer has a strong absorption affinity for solar UVR, depending on wavelength. Absorption, being more effective for the shorter wavelengths, tends to reach its peak at 250 nm and drops rapidly with an increase in wavelength, even beyond 350 nm. Thus, the biological harmful

radiations below 280 nm (vacuum UV and UV-C) are completely shielded by the ozone layer; only a fraction of the UV-B and UV-A wavelength bands reach ground level. Depletion of the protective ozone layer beyond the critical level by certain atmospheric pollutants (fluorocarbons and nitrogen oxides) that interact photo chemically with ozone will promote the transmission of highly injurious UVR (El-Hinnawi and Hashmi 1982). The troposphere is an attenuating medium. The solar radiation is reflected and scattered primarily by clouds (moisture and ice particles), particulate matter (dust, smoke, haze, and smog), and various gases. The two major processes involved in troposphere scattering are determined by the size of the molecules and particles and are known as selective scattering and nonselective scattering. Selective scattering is caused by smoke, fumes, haze, and gas molecules that are the same size, or smaller, than the incident radiation wavelength. Scattering in these cases is inversely proportional to wavelength and is most effective for the shortest wavelengths. The degree of scattering decreases in the following order: UV-B > UV-A > violet > blue > green > yellow > orange > red > infrared. When the atmosphere is clear and relatively transparent, selective scattering is less severe than when it is extensively polluted. Selective scattering of sunlight in the blue region of the spectrum under clear-sky conditions accounts for the blue sky when the degree of scattering is sufficiently high. This is determined by the length of the atmospheric path traversed by sunlight. With the sun overhead at noon, the sky appears white because little scattering occurs at the minimum atmospheric path length. At sunrise and sunset, however, the solar disc appears red because of the increased atmospheric path associated with blue light scattering and relatively little scattering of the red component. Selective scattering may range from 10% in the early morning to 20% in the late afternoon (McVeigh 1977).

In the prospect of Bangladesh As Bangladesh is located on the tropic of cancer (23 27') the sun radiation directly comes overhead. Due to the position of the earth the sun ray falls directly upon the tropic of center. So it has relatively even day light. And because of that the temperature due to the heat radiation on this region is good for living and other purpose like agriculture, so along this line the density of population is far denser than other places. Mathematically, along this line, solar intensity is

= 1353 = 1241.25 Utilization of solar energy:

Solar energy plays a vital role in the production of electricity. Using solar panel we can generate electricity from sun energy. It is less expensive at the same time its nature-friendly. So by this way we can use solar radiation and can produce electricity without polluting the environment.

Figure: Solar electricity. Solar radiation is also used to grow plants in the greenhouse. Some plant grows in some special conditions and greenhouse can provide those conditions to grow the plants. Greenhouse entraps the solar radiation inside and increase the heat inside of the greenhouse.

SOLAR ENERGY Solar Energy is inexhaustible and pollution free. It is available everywhere; but the greatest amount is available between two broad bands encircling the earth between 15 and 35 latitude north and south. Fortunately, Bangladesh is situated between 2043 north and 2638 north latitude and as such

Bangladesh is in a very favorable position in respect of the utilization of solar energy. Annual amount of radiation varies from 1840 to 1575 kwh/m2 which is 50-100% higher than in Europe. Taking an average solar radiation of 1900 kwh per square meter, total annual solar radiation in Bangladesh is equivalent to 1010 X 1018 J. present total yearly consumption of energy is about 700 X 1018 J. this shows even if 0.07% of the incident radiation can be utilized, total requirement of energy in the country can be met. At present energy utilization in Bangladesh is about 0.15 watt/sq. meter land area, whereas the availability is above 208 watt/sq. meter. This shows the enormity of the potentiality of this source in this country (Eusuf, 1997). A good number of organizations and departments are doing research, development, demonstration, diffusion and commercialization of solar energy technology. Diffusion aspects of the solar energy technologies are using mostly in Bangladesh specially solar Photovoltaic (PV) systems, solar cooker, solar oven, solar water heater and solar dryer. Solar energy technology in Bangladesh
1. Solar PV System: Rural electrification Board (REB), Atomic Energy

Commission (AEC), Local Government Engineering Department (LGED), and Grameen Shakti (GS) have installed (are in the process of installation of ) a number of solar PV systems in different parts of the country. REB has undertaken a pilot project for supply of solar electricity in some islands of one main river (Meghna) in Narshingdi district.

2. Solar Cookers: Institute of fuel Research and Development (IFRD) of

BCSIR and Centre for mass Education in Science (CMES) are engaged in the development and dissemination of solar cookers. A low cost reflector type cooker developed by IFRD is a spun-aluminum parabolic reflector. It is light9 weight (2-3 Kgs), cheap and simple to construct, but the disadvantages are that it needs manual sun tracking frequently and the reflectivity deteriorates rather rapidly and cooking is interrupted by cloudy and hazy conditions. On a bright sunny day a 42 inch aperture spun aluminum cooker takes about three hours for cooking three items (rice, fish or meat, pulses) for a family of 5-6 members in Bangladesh. 3. Solar Oven and Dryer: Different models of solar ovens have been designed and constructed with locally available raw materials. The institute of Food Science and Technology (IFST) has developed a cabinet dryer for drying fruits, vegetables etc. by simply spreading a transparent cover over a box. These dryers are made of bamboo and polythene sheet. 4. Solar Water Heater:

This heater is designed and constructed by IFRD. It consists of coated flatplate which absorbs solar radiation, convert into heat and transfers the resulting heat to circulating water. This type of heater is useful for supplying low grade thermal energy at temperatures below 90 0C. Recommendation for future: Due to the geographical situation the solar radiation in the Bangladesh is very good. But we are not making any use of this advantage. The government should take proper steps to utilize this limitless energy. Using solar electricity must be made compulsory for all buildings. This way the enormous pressure on the national grid can be reduced. All mills and factory must have to get their 50% electricity from solar electricity. Beside that solar electricity production project should be introduced.