Difference between revisions of "Sunlight"
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With 24*365 hours per year this results in an average usable energy per m<sup>2</sup> and year of 1095 kWh in the UK and 2190-2628 kWh in the Sahara. | With 24*365 hours per year this results in an average usable energy per m<sup>2</sup> and year of 1095 kWh in the UK and 2190-2628 kWh in the Sahara. | ||
| − | + | You know the whole thing about Avatar's story as being done before is aauctlly kind of a lame criticism. Yeah, similar stories have been told, so it's not like it broke any story telling barriers but let's face it, there are literally, what, a dozen or so (18, if I remember correctly) different types of stories in the world (by this I mean; man versus God, man versus nature, man versus man, etc.) Despite this there are still thousands of stories are in existence. Take Romeo and Juliette- that story is everywhere but with different characters, slightly different plots and slightly different endings. Guy likes girl, guy loses girl then maybe happy ending or maybe sad ending; depending on the writer, culture, moral lesson to be learned, etc. A handful of stories turned into thousands- the point here folks, is that it's not the story itself but the journey the reader/ watcher/ listener sees/ hears/imagines. And no, I'm not saying you have to like Avatar, you can hate it or love it as much as you want but don't hate it or love it JUST because of the story is like any other thing out there. There are after all some stories that don't click well for some people and by the same token there are some stories that click well with others. | |
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==References== | ==References== | ||
Revision as of 01:03, 23 March 2012
The Sun is on average 228 million km away from Mars. Sunlight takes 13 minutes to travel from the Sun to Mars with a power of 589 W/m2. It is not as bright as on Earth (1367 W/m2). No one has ever seen it, but it probably gives the impression of dawn or dusk during daytime. Colonists should have this impression only for a few days until their visual cortex adapts.
The Martian atmosphere does not filter sunlight as efficiently as on Earth, leaving too much UV ray and high energy particles to reach the surface. Life is considered not possible without additional shielding against cosmic radiation (perhaps highlighting the need for an early warning system) and parts of the solar spectrum.
The amount of usable energy on the surface is lower due to the rotation of the planet and the angle of the plain. Also, reflection and absorption (albedo) at the atmosphere must be considered. On Earth the annual usable energy per m2 is about 1000 kWh in Middle Europe and 2400 kWh in the Sahara.
Sunlight can be used for power generation by solar panels and for growing plants in greenhouses.
Facts and figures
"in the UK we receive an average power of about 125 Wm-2 whilst the Sahara Desert gets 250-300 Wm-2" [1].
With 24*365 hours per year this results in an average usable energy per m2 and year of 1095 kWh in the UK and 2190-2628 kWh in the Sahara.
You know the whole thing about Avatar's story as being done before is aauctlly kind of a lame criticism. Yeah, similar stories have been told, so it's not like it broke any story telling barriers but let's face it, there are literally, what, a dozen or so (18, if I remember correctly) different types of stories in the world (by this I mean; man versus God, man versus nature, man versus man, etc.) Despite this there are still thousands of stories are in existence. Take Romeo and Juliette- that story is everywhere but with different characters, slightly different plots and slightly different endings. Guy likes girl, guy loses girl then maybe happy ending or maybe sad ending; depending on the writer, culture, moral lesson to be learned, etc. A handful of stories turned into thousands- the point here folks, is that it's not the story itself but the journey the reader/ watcher/ listener sees/ hears/imagines. And no, I'm not saying you have to like Avatar, you can hate it or love it as much as you want but don't hate it or love it JUST because of the story is like any other thing out there. There are after all some stories that don't click well for some people and by the same token there are some stories that click well with others.
