It contains the goals of the lectures on "Solar Radiation for Hydrologists" of the class of Hydrology of the University of Trento

1. Riccardo Rigon
IlSole,F.Lelong,2008,ValdiSella
Solar Radiation
Physics and Geometry
for hydrologists

2. When you see the Sun rise,
do you not see a round disc of fire
somewhat like a guinea?
Oh no, no! I see an innumerable
company of heavenly host
crying
“Glory, glory, glory is the Lord God
Almighty.”
W. Blake
R. Rigon
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3. R. Rigon
Educational Goals
• To recognise that the water cycle is powered by solar energy
• To present the ways in which radiation is produced, received by the
Earth, transmitted by the atmosphere, reflected, absorbed, and reemitted
by the Earth’s surface
• To gain knowledge of the spatial and temporal variation of the
radiation distribution on the Earth
• To introduce the concepts necessary to better understand the elements
of the energy balance needed in remote-sensing applications, the snow
balance, and evapotranspiration
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3
Introduction