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SRML Glossary "R"
Special thanks to NREL
We'd like to thank the National Renewable Energy Laboratory for
making available to us their glossary, which is the basis of ours. We've
edited and reformatted it, and linked it to our Web pages, and we'll continue
to add our own specialized terms, illustrations, and examples. Please note that
the Solar Radiation Monitoring Laboratory takes full responsibility for any
inaccuracies that may occur.
Links to other glossary sections:
A B
C D E F
G H I J
K L M N
O P Q R S
T U V W
X Y Z
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In the context
of the RReDC, synonymous with electromagnetic
radiation, or the energy produced by an oscillating electrical (and
magnetic) field, transmitted by photons. See
Electromagnetic Spectrum.
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An instrument
that measures radiance, or the radiation
emitted by an object.
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An instrument package that moves through the atmosphere, usually attached to a
balloon, and transmits data over a radio frequency.
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Sir Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman (1888-1970) was the Indian physicist who
discovered that when a beam of light passes through a liquid or a gas, it
is scattered and the frequency of some of the scattered light is changed.
The amount of change is a function of the scattering particles and the
wavelengths of light.
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The difference between the actual and the desired quantity that varies randomly; that is, if
a probability distribution of differences is produced, it is the Gaussian error function.
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The scattering of solar radiation by (mathematically spherical) particles in the
atmosphere which are much smaller than the wavelength of light, analyzed by Lord Rayleigh.
Rayleigh scattering explains the blue sky.
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Radiometer
Calibration & Characterization (RCC) software is used to automate the BORCAL
process. The RCC controls all data acquisition from the reference radiometers
and those under calbration, displays several color-coded fields representing
the present sky condition and instrument performance, builds an instrument
calibration database, and generates the final calibration report.
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There is no formal definition for this term. Typical usage defines it as any
energy source that is replenished at least as fast as it is used. Standard examples are
solar, wind, hydroelectric, and biomass products.
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A device that receives solar energy and converts it to useful energy forms. The figure on page 6 of
Shining On illustrates several types of receivers.
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The fraction
or percent of a particular frequency or wavelength of electromagnetic
radiation that is reflected from the surface of a substance without
being absorbed or transmitted.
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The bending
of electromagnetic radiation
by its passage through a medium of a high refractive index. Light
is refracted by passing through a lens, water, or the atmosphere.
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The amount of water vapor in the air expressed as the
ratio between the measured amount and the maximum possible amount (the saturation point at
which water condenses as dew).
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The determination of a quantity by detecting it from a distance. A common application of remote
sensing is the use of satellite-borne instruments to determine the location and amount of
resources on the surface of the Earth.
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The re-emission
of electromagnetic radiation
that had been previously absorbed by a substance.
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An instrument
that determines total solar radiation
and diffuse sky radiation by periodically
shading the total sky sensor from the sun with a rotating shadow
band. Below is a picture of a rotating shadow band radiometer at the
Solar Radiation Research
Laboratory. The curved black shadowband at the right of the instrument
is at rest; once every minute, it rotates 180° to obscure the sun for
a few seconds, then returns to its resting position.
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Links to other glossary sections:
A B
C D E F
G H I J
K L M N
O P Q R S
T U V W
X Y Z
© 2022, UO Solar Radiation Monitoring
Laboratory.
Last
revised: April 5, 2022.
Home page URL: solardat.uoregon.edu |