In the realm of energy journalism, it’s crucial to stay abreast of scientific advancements that could potentially impact the energy sector. A recent study led by Eric E. Mamajek from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, along with collaborators Jason T. Wright from Penn State University, Noah W. Tuchow from the University of Texas at Austin, Patrick A. Young from Arizona State University, Matthew A. Kenworthy from Leiden University, and Emily A. Gilbert from the University of Chicago, introduces a new unit of measurement that could simplify the way we understand and compare stellar irradiance.
The study, published in the journal Astronomy & Astrophysics, proposes the “solirad” (So) as a convenient unit for quoting astronomical irradiances. The solirad is defined as the nominal total solar irradiance, which is the total electromagnetic energy from the Sun, integrated over all wavelengths, incident per unit area per unit time at a distance of one astronomical unit (au). This value was adopted by the International Astronomical Union (IAU) in 2015 as an exact reference value of 1361 W/m².
Currently, measurements of physical parameters for stars and (exo)planets are often quoted in units normalized to the Sun and/or Earth. However, the units employed for “flux,” “insolation,” “instellation,” and other similar terms can be cumbersome or inconsistent. The solirad aims to address this issue by providing a standardized unit that is equivalent to the IAU’s nominal total solar irradiance.
For the energy sector, this new unit could potentially simplify the comparison of solar irradiance data across different studies and projects. It could also facilitate the evaluation of solar energy potential in different locations on Earth or even on other planets, should future technologies allow for such endeavors. Furthermore, the solirad could aid in the assessment of the habitability of exoplanets by providing a standardized measure of the stellar irradiance they receive.
In essence, the solirad offers a more straightforward way to communicate and compare the amount of solar energy received by planets, both within our solar system and beyond. This could have significant implications for the energy industry, particularly in the fields of solar energy and space exploration.
Source: Astronomy & Astrophysics
This article is based on research available at arXiv.