Ask A Scientist© Astronomy Archive

Author:      gary tollaksen
How much gamma, infra-red, ultraviolet & x-ray radiation actually reaches
the Earth's surface from the Sun (%)?

Response #:  1 of 1
Author:      samuel p bowen
There is almost no gamma or x-ray radiation from the Sun.  The amount of
visible and near visible light from the Sun follows the black body formula
(radiation from a hot body).  I will need to look up the amount of visible
light from the Sun, which is called the solar constant by some people.  I
think it is something like a watt per square meter, but I will have to look
it up.  This will be the total amount of energy in the visible range.