Collection: Net radiometer

Net radiation is the balance of incoming solar radiation and outgoing radiation from the Earth's surface. Shortwave radiation in the wavelength range of 0.3 to 3 µm reaches the Earth's surface, where some of this radiation is reflected and the remaining energy is absorbed. Incoming longwave far-infrared (FIR) radiation in the range of 4.5 to over 40 µm is also absorbed by the Earth's surface, which heats up accordingly and then emits FIR into the sky.

The main applications of net radiometers for measuring the radiation balance are agrometeorology, specifically the study of evapotranspiration, as well as climatology, meteorology, and hydrology. The monitoring of glaciers and ice fields is of particular interest for global warming research. Net radiometers are also often used in conjunction with small, automatic weather stations and therefore must be portable.