Meteorology 101 Solar Zenith 23/09/2011

Shadows and Solar Zenith

Name__________________________
Lab Partner_____________________
Section________________________

Introduction: The solar zenith angle is defined to be the angle between the sun and
a line that goes straight up (to the zenith)

To get started watch NASA Seasons Video. In reality the sun is very far from Earth
and relative to this distance the Earth is very small. In the drawing below, the Earth is
drawn much larger than it should be if the vertical scale matched the horizontal scale.
The main point is that all rays that leave the sun and hit the Earth travel essentially
parallel to each other when they reach Earth whether at the north pole, south pole of
equator.

In the figure at left Z is the zenith angle and

A is the altitude (A=90-z); the angle from
the horizon to the sun.

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Meteorology 101 Solar Zenith 23/09/2011

Below are 3 figures showing the position of the sun for Winter Solstice, Summer
Solstice, and the Equinoxes. Refer to these figure to find the solar zenith angle for a
particular Latitude and time of year. In the figure below we assume that a person is
standing at point P and we are determining the noon zenith angle seen by that person.
Watch the video on solar declination as it is used in determining the solar zenith angle for
different times of year. Also see this short video for an explanation of the figures below.

When determining the solar zenith angle for different times of year use the appropriate
“boxed in” relationship above.

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Meteorology 101 Solar Zenith 23/09/2011

In Summary, to calculate the solar Zenith Angle at noon for your latitude:
1. determine your latitude
2. determine the latitude for which the sun is directly overhead at noon (the declination).
3. subtract the declination from your latitude.

For example:
The noon zenith angle at the tropic of cancer on June 21 is zero since the sun is directly
overhead 23.5 N on June 21.

***The noon zenith angle at the North pole (90 N) on June 21 is 66.5 since the sun is
directly overhead 23.5 N on June 21. I.e. 90-23.5 = 66.5

The noon zenith angle at in Anchorage (60 N) on Dec 21 is 83.5 since the sun is directly
overhead -23.5 (23.5 S) on Dec 21. i.e. 60- (-23.5) = 83.5.

The altitude of the sun above the horizon is 90 - zenith angle. For Anchorage on Dec.
21 the sun is 6.5 degrees above the horizon at noon.

Questions to test your understanding. (see back sheet for selected answers)

When the sun is directly over your head the solar zenith angle is _________________ and
the solar Altitude is __________________.

At sunrise or sunset the solar zenith angle is _____________________ and the solar Altitude
is __________________.
.

What is the noon zenith angle in Orlando Florida (latitude 28.5 o) on Sept 21? __________

What is the noon zenith angle in Anchorage (60 N) on June 21? (show your calculations)

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Meteorology 101 Solar Zenith 23/09/2011

Part 1. Calculate noon solar zenith angle and the solar altitude at noon for Vancouver,
WA (45.6 N) on:

Dec. 21 noon zenith angle =________ ; Solar Altitude=__________

June 21 noon zenith angle =________; Solar Altitude=__________
March 21 or Sept 21. noon zenith angle =________; Solar Altitude=__________
Using a protractor, a ruler, and a separate sheet of paper (see next) estimate your noon
shadow length for Vancouver, WA (45.6 N) on the above dates. Actually this is easiest if
you follow the instructions given in the video below to estimate your noon shadow
length. Once you get a good image showing your results, scan or photograph it and paste
it below (replace gridlines on next page).

What is your actual height? =___________________

See video on shadow length for step by step instruction. Use a real protractor for your
design to estimate your shadow length at different times of year.

To calculate your shadow length using the traditional pencil paper and protractor, make a
careful drawing like the one below. The heavy thick vertical line is drawn to scale to
represent your height and a ray from the sun coming in at an angle Z from the vertical
grazes your head and hits the ground at the end of your shadow. Using a scale of 1.0 cm
=1.0 ft makes all measurements and conversion from your drawing very easy. For
example if you are 6 ft tall draw the vertical line 6 cm. Feel free to use the grid markings
on the grid sheet provided as a scale. You also may want to use the grid space in
landscape orientation. If you use this method instead of the online environment use the
gridlines provided on the next page and take a photograph of your results and insert it
into this document.
Z

Shadow length

ANSWERS:

Dec. 21 shadow length =_________

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Meteorology 101 Solar Zenith 23/09/2011

June 21 shadow length =_________

March 21 or Sept 21. shadow length =_________

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Meteorology 101 Solar Zenith 23/09/2011

Use a drawing to answer the following question (the online environment

is fine): The length of the shadow cast by the chime tower at noon on the
first day of Fall term is 200 ft. From this information estimate the height
of the chime tower. You can use the online environment shown in the
video for this also. The question is backwards though, knowing the
shadow length how tall is the tower?

Height of Chime Tower is____________________________________ ft

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Meteorology 101 Solar Zenith 23/09/2011

Part 2. Home design for energy efficiency. (see video)

(use a real protractor for your design)

The House above has a roof angle of 45°. It has a southward facing window that is 6 ft
tall and 1 ft from the roof top. Assume your design is for Vancouver, WA.

Using a protractor and the instructions given in the video, draw a careful scale drawing of
this home (The drawing above is just a sketch and cannot be used for good results.)
Capture your final image and paste it below. [You may do a hand drawing if you’d like
using the gridline on the next page, then scan or photograph it and paste it in this
document for submission. ]

4. How long does an eve (overhang) have to be to just block out all sunlight from
getting into the window at noon on June 21? Hint: A ray of sunlight that just hits the
bottom of the window will not get into the window if the eve is long enough. So
carefully draw this specific ray and then draw your eve to just block out this ray.

Length of eve (overhang) = _______________ ft

5. With this overhang how high up the window does the sunlight get at noon on Dec.
21? Your eve has been established. Draw a ray of sunlight coming from the

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Meteorology 101 Solar Zenith 23/09/2011

direction of the winter zenith that also just touches the tip of your eve. Al rays of
sunlight below this special ray will go into the window and warm the house.

Height up the window at noon on Dec 21=_______________

If you choose to do a hand drawing it’s easiest if you draw your house on the left side of
the grid lines so you have plenty of room to draw in your solar rays. Also, you really
only need to draw the front of the house (window side) and the 450 roof line to answer the
questions.

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Meteorology 101 Solar Zenith 23/09/2011

Part 3.

The photo below of a beer setting on a flat rock was taken on August 26,
2006.

What time of day is it?

a. early morning
b. late morning
c. noon
d. early afternoon
e. late afternoon.
f. not enough information

Clark College Meteorology

Meteorology 101 Solar Zenith 23/09/2011

The graph below shows the solar declination for different times of year.
Remember that the declination is the latitude for which the sun is directly
overhead at that specific time of year. For example, on May 12 the noon sun
is directly overhead at a latitude of 19 degrees North.

Using this information, at what latitude was the beer photo taken?
Latitude=__________________

Other questions
The sun is directly overhead at Bangkok Thailand (latitude 14oN):
a.once a year
b.twice a year
c.four times a year
d.never

On what day would you expect the sun to be overhead at Bangkok Thailand (latitude
14oN):?
a.September 15
b.December 22
c.February 4
d.March 10
e.April 27

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Meteorology 101 Solar Zenith 23/09/2011

On what day would you expect the sun to be overhead at Miami Florida (latitude 26oN):?
a.September 15
b.December 22
c.February 4
d.March 10
e.April 27
f. never

Answers to selected questions

Questions to test your understanding.

When the sun is directly over your head the solar zenith angle is ____0.0
degrees_____________ and the solar Altitude is ________90 degrees__________.

At sunrise or sunset the solar zenith angle is _____90 degrees______ and the solar Altitude
is _____0.0 degrees_______.
.

What is the noon zenith angle in Orlando Florida (latitude 28.5 o) on Sept 21?
____28.5o______

What is the noon zenith angle in Anchorage (60 N) on June 21? (show your calculations)
60-23.4=36.5o

Part 1 top of page 4

June 21 noon zenith angle =_22.1o_; Solar Altitude=__67.9o____

More answers below

What time of day is it?

a. early morning
b. late morning
c. noon
d. early afternoon
e. late afternoon.
f. not enough information

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Meteorology 101 Solar Zenith 23/09/2011

Using this information, at what latitude was the beer photo taken?
Latitude=______10 oN____________

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