Radiation instruments are the typical instruments used for measuring radiation, mostly solar. It is a very popular weather instrument used widely across the globe for weather forecasting. Spectral range of radiations is measured by the solar radiation instruments. Pyranometer is the most commonly used solar radiation instrument for measuring global solar radiation.

Solar radiation is the beaming energy created by the sun. It is a result of nuclear fusion reaction. Solar radiation is the electromagnetic energy created by this reaction.

There are different kinds of radiation instruments used for measuring solar radiations. Pyranometers, Radiometers, Quantum Sensors, etc are some of the major Radiation instruments used at all weather stations.

Pyranometers:

Pyranometers measures the energy from the sun on the surface of earth. High quality Pyranometer features several devices including thermocouples, thermopiles, etc. A temperature difference is created when the sunlight strikes the thermopile which produces certain amount of voltage that indicates the amount of radiation. Thermopile based pyranometers are very costly and provide accurate measurements.

Radiometers:

The net radiation levels are measured by Radiometers. It is measured by deducting the reflected solar radiation from the total incoming direct beam and the distributed solar radiation.

Quantum Sensors:

Photosynthetic light spectrum, commonly known as Photosynthetic Photon Flux Density (PPFD) is measured by the Quantum sensors as the number of photons per unit. Thermopile arrays or photovoltaic detectors are used in these solar radiation instruments.