Pyranometer

A pyranometer is a device used to measure solar irradiance on a planar surface, which is the amount of solar radiation energy incident on a surface from the sun. It converts the global solar radiation it receives into an electrical signal that can be measured. Pyranometers can be divided into three types based on their technology and spectral sensitivity, namely thermopile pyranometers, silicon cell pyranometers, and photodiode pyranometers. They are designed to have cosine response that accurately measures solar radiation when the angle of incidence varies, with a full response when radiation hits the sensor perpendicularly. [

A solar radiation sensor, also known as a pyranometer, is a device that measures the intensity of solar radiation, which is the energy from the sun, reaching a surface. It essentially quantifies how much sunlight is hitting a specific area, including both direct and diffuse (scattered) sunlight. These sensors are crucial for various applications, including monitoring solar energy systems, weather forecasting, and agricultural studies.

Solar radiation can be categorized into three main types: ultraviolet (UV) radiation, visible light, and infrared (IR) radiation. UV radiation has a wavelength range of 100 nm to 400 nm and is responsible for sunburns and skin damage. Visible light has a wavelength range of 400 nm to 700 nm and is responsible for the colors that we see in the world around us. IR radiation has a wavelength range of 700 nm to 1 mm and is responsible for heating objects that it comes into contact with. These three types of solar radiation play important roles in various natural and man-made processes.