SunAngle_Analemma_s23

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California Polytechnic State University, Pomona *

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1010

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Astronomy

Date

Dec 6, 2023

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pdf

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4

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NOON SUN ANGLE ASSIGNMENT Hint: For subsolar point locations beyond the equator the noon angle will be very low in the sky. The curved surface of our planet causes a continual change in the angle at which the sun’s incoming rays strike the surface. Between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn, the angle at which these solar rays strike earth’s surface at noon , reaches its maximum of 90° during their respective solstice periods . Also, the noon sun angle decreases with a commensurate increase in latitude of the subsolar point towards either the north or south pole. The result of this continual change in the latitude of the subsolar point is an uneven distribution of insolation and therefore an uneven heating of the planet. The thermopause (top of atmosphere) receives 2 ½ times more insolation at the equator than the thermopause receives at the poles where the sun angle in the sky at noon is much lower and the inbound radiation is more diffuse (less concentrated) . It must pass through a greater thickness of atmosphere and because of this suffers greater energy losses due to reflection, scattering, and absorption. Therefore, there is more conversion of shortwave radiation to longwave heat radiation occuring between the tropics and especially the near the equator where the subsolar point passes twice a year. Understanding that sun angle is a key factor in the amount of insolation received, let us make a few calculations to determine the noon sun angle at a given location using the following equation . Noon sun angle = 90 – arc distance
NOON SUN ANGLE ASSIGNMENT Hint: For subsolar point locations beyond the equator the noon angle will be very low in the sky. The arc distance is the difference, in degrees along earth’s curved surface, between the latitude in question (of the observer’s eye) and the latitude where the sun’s rays strike the earth perpendicularly (called the sub solar point). 1. Knowing this, calculate the noon sun angle for Cal Poly Pomona , using its latitude as described by our own university website during the following 3 times of the year. Show all calculations . https://www.cpp.edu/~jskoga/physicalcalpoly/ a. Summer Solstice= b. Equinox= c. Winter Solstice= As an example, here is my calculation of the sun angle at noon for Cancun, Mexico (21.1619° N) during either of the spring or fall equinox. Noon sun angle = 90° - [Distance between 0° latitude of the subsolar point and the latitude where I ’ m standing 21.1619°] Noon sun angle = 90° - 21.1619° Noon sun angle = 68.8381° N Cancun ( 21.1619 ° N ) Subsolar point at the equator (0 ° ) S
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