Solar Radiation and Earth Temperatures

Extract

At a recent meeting of the Society, Dr Buchan read a paper based on certain observations of the temperature of the waters of the Mediterranean, which had been made by the staff of the Austrian ship Pola. These indicated that the direct effect of solar Tadiation was felt to a depth of over 150 feet. At any rate, the facts were that the temperature of the upper stratum of water of this thickness was perceptibly higher at about 4 p.m. than at 8 a.m., and that the difference was about 1°·5 Fahr. or 0°·8 Cent, at the surface, diminishing fairly steadily to value zero at a depth of fully 150 feet or 50 metres. It may easily be calculated that this excess of temperature at the afternoon hour means the accumulation of an amount of heat equal to 1460 units in every column of water 1 square centimetre in section; and this is accomplished within the eight hours from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. It must be noted that this accumulation of heat is a daily occurrence.