Simple Science Of Magic Of Sunbeams
Page created on: 2025-01-08 08:38:34
Saw this view as I walked across the parking lot this morning and my thought bubble was "today we will see the magic of sunbeams". Solar energy is mostly light. There is deep science to the wavelengths of the energy and absorption and transmission but simply solar energy passes through the atmosphere and is absorbed by solid surfaces that are struck by the light. The sun heats the ground. The ground heats the air.
Even on a day when the official air temperature never rises above freezing, a sunny day can warm a dark asphalt surfaces well above freezing. Melting exposes more surface which heats more and the compound effect can make big progress in clearing parking lots and road surfaces that have just a little bit cleared off.
Some of the ice on trees and power lines can see the same effect but uneven melting on limbs and lines can lead to failures of the limbs and lines due to uneven loading. Also the falling ice can create issues.
Overall blue skies after a winter storm are a great thing. It helps the mood and it will allow the magic of sunbeams to help clear our paths.