| abstract | - Insolation means the amount of energy arriving from the sun at a location. Insolation is measured in Watts per square meter, W/m². Typical insolation on Earth at noon on a sunny day is around 1000 W/m². Insolation values are interesting to plant ecologists, climatologists, and those who wish to use solar power to make electricity or heat. Insolation is usually measured with an instrument called a thermopile pyranometer. If you calibrate a solar panel against a pyranometer, you could then measure insolation with the solar panel, but keep in mind that solar panels are quite sensitive to heat, and will become less and less efficient as they heat up. Factors affecting insolation:
* time of day
* cloud
* season
* atmospheric transparency (dust, smog, haze)
* latitude or sun angle
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