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Losses depend on time of day (length of light's path through the atmosphere depending on the solar elevation angle), cloud cover, moisture content and other contents. Direct irradiance is equal to the extraterrestrial irradiance above the atmosphere minus the atmospheric losses due to absorption and scattering. It excludes diffuse solar radiation (radiation that is scattered or reflected by atmospheric components). Direct Normal Irradiance (DNI), or beam radiation, is measured at the surface of the Earth at a given location with a surface element perpendicular to the Sun.
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The solar constant is a conventional measure of mean TSI at a distance of one astronomical unit (AU). It is measured perpendicular to the incoming sunlight. Total Solar Irradiance (TSI) is a measure of the solar power over all wavelengths per unit area incident on the Earth's upper atmosphere.There are several measured types of solar irradiance. The study and measurement of solar irradiance have several important applications, including the prediction of energy generation from solar power plants, the heating and cooling loads of buildings, and climate modeling and weather forecasting. Solar irradiance affects plant metabolism and animal behavior. Irradiance on the Earth's surface additionally depends on the tilt of the measuring surface, the height of the Sun above the horizon, and atmospheric conditions. Irradiance in space is a function of distance from the Sun, the solar cycle, and cross-cycle changes. Irradiance may be measured in space or at the Earth's surface after atmospheric absorption and scattering. This integrated solar irradiance is called solar irradiation, solar exposure, solar insolation, or insolation. Solar irradiance is often integrated over a given time period in order to report the radiant energy emitted into the surrounding environment ( joule per square metre, J/m 2) during that time period. Solar irradiance is measured in watts per square metre (W/m 2) in SI units. Solar irradiance is the power per unit area received from the Sun in the form of electromagnetic radiation as measured in the wavelength range of the measuring instrument. Note that the two images use the same color scale. The top image is the annual mean solar irradiation (or insolation) at the top of Earth's atmosphere (TOA) the bottom image shows the annual insolation reaching the Earth's surface after passing through the atmosphere. The shield effect of Earth's atmosphere on solar irradiation.