Sunshine Recorder
| Make: Virtual Hydromet | Model: Sun-Shine Recorder |
Key Highlights
- *A Sunshine Recorder is an instrument used to measure and record the amount of sunshine or solar radiation that reaches the Earth's surface.
*Measurand: Sunshine duration or solar radiation
*Sensor Type: Pyranometer or a type of photosensitive sensor (e.g., light-dependent resistor)
*Signal Output: Analog (typically in terms of light intensity) or mechanical (e.g., chart recorder)
*Supplied With: Sunshine recorder chart, mounting accessories, user manual
Category: Sunshine Recorder
Sunshine recorders are designed to quantify the duration of sunlight, typically in terms of sunshine hours per day. The traditional device used to record sunshine hours relies on a heliograph or solar radiation sensor. The most well-known type of sunshine recorder is the Campbell-Stokes sunshine recorder, but modern versions often use photovoltaic cells or other light sensors.
1. The Campbell-Stokes Sunshine Recorder is a classic example. It uses a glass sphere (or optical lens) to focus sunlight onto a recording chart or thermo-sensitive paper.
2. The sunlight passing through the sphere focuses on the paper, and as the sun moves across the sky, the sunbeam burns a trace on the paper, showing the duration of sunlight.
3. The recorder burns a mark proportional to the intensity of the sunlight. The longer the sunbeam is concentrated, the longer the trace is, representing hours of sunshine.
4. Modern versions of sunshine recorders often use photodiodes or photovoltaic cells to measure the intensity of sunlight and calculate sunshine hours based on the intensity and duration of the light.
5. These digital systems can record solar radiation intensity in units like watts per square meter (W/m²) and transmit data to a central station or database for analysis.
