Shortwave radiation
Encyclopedia
Shortwave radiation is a term used to describe radiant energy
with wavelengths in the visible (VIS), near-ultraviolet (UV), and near-infrared (NIR) spectra.
There is no standard cut-off for the near-infrared range; therefore, the shortwave radiation range is also variously defined. It may be broadly defined to include all radiation with a wavelength between 0.1μm
and 5.0μm or narrowly defined so as to include only radiation between 0.2μm and 3.0μm.
There is little radiation flux (in terms of W/m²) to the Earth's surface below 0.2μm or above 3.0μm, although photon flux remains significant as far as 6.0μm, compared to shorter wavelength fluxes. UV-C radiation spans from 0.1μm to .28μm, UV-B from 0.28μm to 0.315μm, UV-A from 0.315μm to 0.4μm, the visible spectrum from 0.4μm to 0.7μm, and NIR arguably from 0.7μm to 5.0μm, beyond which the infrared is thermal.
Shortwave radiation is distinguished from longwave radiation.
Radiant energy
Radiant energy is the energy of electromagnetic waves. The quantity of radiant energy may be calculated by integrating radiant flux with respect to time and, like all forms of energy, its SI unit is the joule. The term is used particularly when radiation is emitted by a source into the...
with wavelengths in the visible (VIS), near-ultraviolet (UV), and near-infrared (NIR) spectra.
There is no standard cut-off for the near-infrared range; therefore, the shortwave radiation range is also variously defined. It may be broadly defined to include all radiation with a wavelength between 0.1μm
Micrometre
A micrometer , is by definition 1×10-6 of a meter .In plain English, it means one-millionth of a meter . Its unit symbol in the International System of Units is μm...
and 5.0μm or narrowly defined so as to include only radiation between 0.2μm and 3.0μm.
There is little radiation flux (in terms of W/m²) to the Earth's surface below 0.2μm or above 3.0μm, although photon flux remains significant as far as 6.0μm, compared to shorter wavelength fluxes. UV-C radiation spans from 0.1μm to .28μm, UV-B from 0.28μm to 0.315μm, UV-A from 0.315μm to 0.4μm, the visible spectrum from 0.4μm to 0.7μm, and NIR arguably from 0.7μm to 5.0μm, beyond which the infrared is thermal.
Shortwave radiation is distinguished from longwave radiation.
External links
- National Science Digital Library - Shortwave radiation
- Measuring Solar Radiation: The Solar Infrared Radiation Station (SIRS). A lesson plan that deals with shortwave radiation from the SIRS instrument.