<p>Beam radiation is direct radiation, e.g. photons that have not been scattered.  Diffuse radiation is indirect and has been scattered.  Examples of beam radiation from the sky would be from the sun directly to your eye.  Diffuse solar radiation would be the blue sky (scattered out of the direct beam by the atmosphere), clouds and anything you can see that is illuminated by the sun.  </p>

<p>Shortwave radiation refers to radiation of solar origin, which is primarily in the visible and shorter wavelengths.  Longwave refers to radiation of terrestrial origin, which is typically in the infrared and longer wavelengths (dependent on temperature) and is radiated by the earth, us, clouds, the atmosphere, etc.</p>

<p>A flux is the "rate of flow of a property per unit area" and for radiation is generally expressed in watts per square meter, Wm$^{-2}$.  A watt is 1 Joule per second, so this is an energy flux, a or the mount of energy flowing through a 1 m$^{2}$ surface every second.</p>

<p>To apply this to your variables:</p>

<ul>
<li><p>Visible beam downward solar flux</p>

<p>This is the direct radiation in the visible spectrum from the sun expressed as a flow of energy.  This is generally given either at the top of atmosphere or at the surface.  For ToA, this would be the rate of energy through a 1 square meter patch just above the atmosphere.  For the surface, this would be the rate of energy into a 1 square meter area on the earths surface.</p></li>
<li><p>Visible diffuse downward solar flux</p>

<p>This is a measure of radiation in the visible spectrum that isn't directly from the sun.  At the surface of the earth this flux would be the rate of energy flowing into a 1 square meter patch of earth from reflection of sunlight (scattering) and from the rest of the sky and clouds that isn't the direct path from the sun.</p></li>
<li><p>Upward longwave radiation flux</p>

<p>This is the rate of energy flow from the sum of all terrestrial emission.  At the top of the atmosphere this would be the terrestrial energy escaping to space (per square meter).</p></li>
<li><p>Near IR beam downward solar flux</p>

<p>This is the same as the visible beam downward solar flux except it is in the near IR band (infrared wavelengths longer but close to that of visible red) rather than in the visible spectrum. </p></li>
<li><p>Downward longwave radiation flux</p>

<p>This flux is terrestrial emission sources that send energy downward toward the earth.  This energy would come from clouds, the atmosphere (greenhouse gasses), etc.</p></li>
<li><p>Downward solar radiation flux</p>

<p>This is the total shortwave flux (visible + IR + UV, etc; beam and diffuse) downward through the top of atmosphere or at the surface.</p></li>
</ul>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-08-27T02:17:26.340Z
2015-08-27T21:05:15.930Z
2015-08-27T21:05:15.930Z
casey
<p>Some reanalysis data sets provide different components of shortwave radiation (near infrared and visible) and longwave. They are referred as radiation or flux. Also there is no mention of "direct" radiation but only "beam". Are these two considered the same? And does the word flux imply something in addition to radiation? Also what is the difference between the long wave and solar fluxes? Here are some examples taken from <a href="http://www.esrl.noaa.gov/psd/data/gridded/data.ncep.reanalysis.surfaceflux.html" rel="nofollow">the NCEP reanalysis site</a>:</p>

<ul>
<li>Visible beam downward solar flux</li>
<li>Visible diffuse downward solar flux</li>
<li>Upward longwave radiation flux</li>
<li>Near IR beam downward solar flux</li>
<li>Downward longwave radiation flux</li>
<li>Downward solar radiation flux</li>
</ul>

<atmospheric-radiation><reanalysis><radiative-transfer>
shortwave and longwave radiation terminology, direct, beam, PAR, flux?
Herman Toothrot
# shortwave and longwave radiation terminology, direct, beam, PAR, flux?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2015-08-26)

Some reanalysis data sets provide different components of shortwave radiation (near infrared and visible) and longwave. They are referred as radiation or flux. Also there is no mention of "direct" radiation but only "beam". Are these two considered the same? And does the word flux imply something in addition to radiation? Also what is the difference between the long wave and solar fluxes? Here are some examples taken from [the NCEP reanalysis site](http://www.esrl.noaa.gov/psd/data/gridded/data.ncep.reanalysis.surfaceflux.html):

* Visible beam downward solar flux
* Visible diffuse downward solar flux
* Upward longwave radiation flux
* Near IR beam downward solar flux
* Downward longwave radiation flux
* Downward solar radiation flux

**Tags:** atmospheric-radiation, reanalysis, radiative-transfer


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2015-08-27. Score: 2 | Accepted answer

Beam radiation is direct radiation, e.g. photons that have not been scattered. Diffuse radiation is indirect and has been scattered. Examples of beam radiation from the sky would be from the sun directly to your eye. Diffuse solar radiation would be the blue sky (scattered out of the direct beam by the atmosphere), clouds and anything you can see that is illuminated by the sun.

Shortwave radiation refers to radiation of solar origin, which is primarily in the visible and shorter wavelengths. Longwave refers to radiation of terrestrial origin, which is typically in the infrared and longer wavelengths (dependent on temperature) and is radiated by the earth, us, clouds, the atmosphere, etc.

A flux is the "rate of flow of a property per unit area" and for radiation is generally expressed in watts per square meter, Wm$^{-2}$. A watt is 1 Joule per second, so this is an energy flux, a or the mount of energy flowing through a 1 m$^{2}$ surface every second.

To apply this to your variables:

* Visible beam downward solar flux

  This is the direct radiation in the visible spectrum from the sun expressed as a flow of energy. This is generally given either at the top of atmosphere or at the surface. For ToA, this would be the rate of energy through a 1 square meter patch just above the atmosphere. For the surface, this would be the rate of energy into a 1 square meter area on the earths surface.
* Visible diffuse downward solar flux

  This is a measure of radiation in the visible spectrum that isn't directly from the sun. At the surface of the earth this flux would be the rate of energy flowing into a 1 square meter patch of earth from reflection of sunlight (scattering) and from the rest of the sky and clouds that isn't the direct path from the sun.
* Upward longwave radiation flux

  This is the rate of energy flow from the sum of all terrestrial emission. At the top of the atmosphere this would be the terrestrial energy escaping to space (per square meter).
* Near IR beam downward solar flux

  This is the same as the visible beam downward solar flux except it is in the near IR band (infrared wavelengths longer but close to that of visible red) rather than in the visible spectrum.
* Downward longwave radiation flux

  This flux is terrestrial emission sources that send energy downward toward the earth. This energy would come from clouds, the atmosphere (greenhouse gasses), etc.
* Downward solar radiation flux

  This is the total shortwave flux (visible + IR + UV, etc; beam and diffuse) downward through the top of atmosphere or at the surface.


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