08-05-2025
Scientists discover hidden role of sunlight in Earth's inner workings
A new study has shown how sunlight – technically, shortwave radiation – has been interacting with Earth's surface and atmosphere, which scientists are only beginning to prospective study, published in Advances in Atmospheric Sciences, shows how decades of research into shortwave radiation is reshaping our understanding of Earth's systems and could lead to major technological and scientific radiation refers to the energy emitted by the sun in the form of visible light, ultraviolet (UV), and short infrared (IR) wavelengths. It is responsible for heating the Earth's surface. It plays a major role in climate and weather
'Shortwave radiation variability has always attracted scientific attention,' lead scientist Jake Gristey explained. 'It has real-world applications in areas like agriculture, renewable energy, and air quality.'The study was led by Gristey from the University of Colorado's Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, in association with the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP), and NOAA's Chemical Sciences Laboratory. According to Gristey, in the new study, three examples of shortwave radiation research have 'received notable recent attention', as stated in a release by Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of paper highlights three key areas where shortwave radiation research is driving change. First, the study points to a major flaw in how atmospheric models simulate sunlight. Most current computer models treat radiation as if it travels only vertically in isolated columns, ignoring how it moves horizontally across the atmosphere. As models become more detailed, Gristey argues, this oversight becomes increasingly significant and calls for new research into more realistic stresses that future research must account for this horizontal transport to improve climate and weather the study tackles gaps in satellite data. 'Shortwave radiation reflected by Earth can change drastically throughout the day, but many satellites only measure limited parts of the day,' Gristey explains. He suggests that recent advances in small satellites and compact sensors could allow for a network of low-cost spacecraft to fill in these blind study explains that these limited satellites restrains our understanding of how shortwave radiation behaves across the full day. Gristey highlights that recent advances in small satellite technology and sensor miniaturisation offer a solution. A network of cost-effective, small satellites could fill this critical gap and provide more complete data.
The study is reshaping our understanding of Earth's systems. (Photo: Getty)
Finally, the research dives into the 'spectral structure' of shortwave radiation, its rich range of colours or wavelengths. These carry information about the Earth's surface and atmosphere that could help track changes in land use, pollution and climate. Gristey believes an upcoming wave of satellites will unlock the full potential of this spectral study says that the shortwave radiation that is sunlight is made up of a wide spectrum of wavelengths, each carrying different types of information. By studying how different wavelengths reflect off Earth's surface and atmosphere, scientists can learn about changes in land, oceans and presented these findings at the International Radiation Symposium 2024. This study is also part of a special issue of this symposium. Gristey also received the International Radiation Commission's Young Scientist Reel
