Solar Panels Question
Discussion
If the panels absorb more solar energy ( inluding visible, IR, and UV ) than the existing surface they are placed on then the net effect will be to add energy to the Earth's ecosystem. Conversely if they are less absorbant then they will tend to cool it.
Of course it is made more complex by the fact that surfaces absorb energy in one wavelength and re-radiate it in another e.g. dark surfaces absorbing visible light and re-radiating it as IR ( i.e. heat ) which is retained by the atmosphere.
I'm surprised though that none of the global warmists have advocated everyone painting their house roof white to reflect solar energy back out into space - I guess they'd rather just tax us instead
Of course it is made more complex by the fact that surfaces absorb energy in one wavelength and re-radiate it in another e.g. dark surfaces absorbing visible light and re-radiating it as IR ( i.e. heat ) which is retained by the atmosphere.
I'm surprised though that none of the global warmists have advocated everyone painting their house roof white to reflect solar energy back out into space - I guess they'd rather just tax us instead
MartG said:
If the panels absorb more solar energy ( inluding visible, IR, and UV ) than the existing surface they are placed on then the net effect will be to add energy to the Earth's ecosystem. Conversely if they are less absorbant then they will tend to cool it.
Of course it is made more complex by the fact that surfaces absorb energy in one wavelength and re-radiate it in another e.g. dark surfaces absorbing visible light and re-radiating it as IR ( i.e. heat ) which is retained by the atmosphere.
I'm surprised though that none of the global warmists have advocated everyone painting their house roof white to reflect solar energy back out into space - I guess they'd rather just tax us instead
But, the electricity generated would be used generating some heat. Effectively, you're delaying the heating effect.Of course it is made more complex by the fact that surfaces absorb energy in one wavelength and re-radiate it in another e.g. dark surfaces absorbing visible light and re-radiating it as IR ( i.e. heat ) which is retained by the atmosphere.
I'm surprised though that none of the global warmists have advocated everyone painting their house roof white to reflect solar energy back out into space - I guess they'd rather just tax us instead
Seeker UK said:
But, the electricity generated would be used generating some heat. Effectively, you're delaying the heating effect.
The electricity is only ( a small ) part of the total light energy absorbed by a panel - most of it is re-radiated immediately as heat. You could also argue that if the electricity was used to power an LED spotlight ( high efficiency, not much energy wasted as heat ) pointing upwards, then very little of the energy converted to electricity would be retained within the earth's ecosystem, with most of it escaping as light into space
MartG said:
I'm surprised though that none of the global warmists have advocated everyone painting their house roof white to reflect solar energy back out into space - I guess they'd rather just tax us instead
Lots of discussion of it. Example; http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11027-00...Gassing Station | Science! | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff