SOLAR GEOMETRY

A LOOK INTO SUN’S PATH

“SOLAR GEOMETRY IS THE DETERMINING FACTOR OF
HEAT GAIN, SHADING AND THE POTENTIAL OF DAYLIGHT
PENETRATION...”
• Climatic conditions are measured and
TEMPERATURE
recorded, the data collected over a period of
time provides a statistical record which
PRECIPIATION shows the mean, maximum, minimum and
variation of temperature, hours of sunshine,

WIND wind, etc.

• Precipitation records provide an indication of
the availability of water; temperature records
SUNSHINE provide a measure of space heating
requirements; rainfall records provide a
basis for estimating run-off rates for sizing
A deliberate choice of surroundings may permit us to
take advantage of the elements that make the drains and culverts; wind and snow records
environment more favorable. provide a basis for estimating winds and
snow loads on building structures.
The position of the sun can be described by two different angles. The first angle is the
solar azimuth (denoted by α, alpha), which is defined as the clockwise angle between
the sun and the cardinal direction of true north. It is measured up to the horizontal
projection of the sun’s position onto the Earth’s surface (see Figure 1).

The second angle is the solar altitude or elevation (denoted by Φ, phi), indicating the
angle of the sun’s position from the horizontal (see Figure 1). The angle of incidence is
not a measure of the sun’s position, but rather a measure of the amount of radiation
incident on a vertical surface. The angle of incidence is related to the solar altitude as
follows:

Together, the two angles provide useful information about the orientation of incoming
sunlight on an object or structure. Knowing this, solar collectors and other devices
should be installed so they are within 20° of either side of perpendicular to the sun.
By incorporating a system that adjusts to the incident angle of the sun, we can further
control the angle incident on the surface of the collector. For example, hinging light
shelves so they are adjustable for the optimal angle.
Tilt of the Earth

The Earth is tilted about 23.5°on its pole-to-pole axis, relative to the
horizontal plane of its orbit. This results in a 47° peak solar altitude
angle difference, causing the hemisphere-specific difference between
summer and winter. In the northern hemisphere, the sun remains on
the south-facing (equator-facing) side of the house all day long, and
varies in its incident angle. In the northern hemisphere, due to the
Earth’s tilt, the solar altitude approaches its minimum during the
winter; the converse is true during the summer. This is critical to take
into consideration when designing a structure’s windows and shading
(see Figure 2). Because of the reduced solar altitude during the cold
season, desirable radiation and natural light can enter deep into the
interior space. While the strategic placement of roof overhangs above
the windows prevents undesirable extra sunlight radiation from
entering a space during the hot season
SUN
• The sun provides FREE solar radiation and heat for our
environment.
• The earth travels in an elliptical path around the sun,
with the sun at one focus of the ellipse so the earth is
closest to the sun when at one end of the major axis in
December and farthest when at the other in June.
• The mean distance is 1.496 x 108 km.
• The intensity of solar radiation which varies inversely
as the square of the distance from the source varies by
3.5% about a mean value of 1353 W/m2 at the earth.
• This has only a small seasonal change with respect to
the amount of solar radiation we receive.
• The number of hours of sunlight we
receive each day is a product of both the
incline of the axis of the earth, at 23.5
degrees from the perpendicular, and it
position relative to the sun on its yearly
rotation.
• The winter solstice for the northern
hemisphere occurs about December 22,
as at that time the sun is directly
overhead at noon in latitude 23.5
degrees South (the Tropic of Capricorn).
• The summer solstice occurs about June
22 when the sun is directly overhead at
noon at latitude 23.5 degrees North (the
Tropic of Cancer).
Cognizence of the sun angles is imperative in designing
for sun access and penetration into interior
spaces. Faces of the building receive differing amounts
and quality of light depending on their orientation, time of
year and time of day. Building layouts should be
programmed to take advantage of solar quality.

The angle at which the sun's rays hit the atmosphere

above us (and hence the earth) effect the amount of solar
radiation we receive. The length of the atmospheric path
is increased when the sun's rays are oblique to the earth's
surface. It varies throughout the year from +23.5 degrees
at the summer solstice to 0 degrees at the equinoxes to -
23.5 degrees at the winter solstice.
SOLAR ANGLES
Describe the sun
position relative
to a vertical
surface
SOLAR ALTITUDE: β (beta)
Vertical angle to sun position
SOLAR AZIMUTH: Φ (phi)
Horizontal bearing
angle from south
SURFACE AZMUTH: Ψ (psi)
Surface horizontal
bearing angle from
south
SURACE SOLAR AZIMUTH: γ (gamma)

Angle between solar

and surface azimuths

γ=Φ-Ψ
ATMOSPHERE
• The atmosphere acts as a storage medium for thermal energy and as an agent in heat exchange at the
earth's surface. It can also, by its circulation, transport heat from one region to another. Its greatest
influence arises from its ability to intercept, absorb, and redirect incoming solar radiation.

• atmosphere consists of a mixture of gases held by gravitational attraction to the earth. It is compressed
under its own weight, and varies in density with altitude and with temperature and water content. The
composition by volume of dry air at ground level is 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, 0.8% argon, and 0.03%
carbon dioxide. The atmosphere contains water vapour in amounts up to 4% by weight. The amount of
water in the atmosphere varies with temperature, water existing as a gas, liquid or solid. Water has the
ability to absorb solar radiation, hence it is cooler when there is cloud cover as the clouds intercept the heat
from solar radiation.
Atmospheric circulation is caused by air currents. Heating
of the ground by solar radiation creates rising warm air
currents. Cooler air must flow in at ground level as a
replacement and must itself be replaced as part of a
pattern of circulation. Hence we have winds.

The density of the atmosphere decreases exponentially

with altitude. The temperature decreases steadily from
ground level to about 10 km up at a rate of 6o C per km,
and above this remains fairly constant. The first layer of
atmosphere is called the troposphere, the second the
stratosphere, the boundary between them is called the
tropopause.
TYPE OF SOLAR RADIATION
"Declination" refers to the tilt of the
earth's axis measured from
perpendicular to the sun's rays. This
angle is 0 degrees at the spring and
autumn equinox. Maximum declination
is reached at the summer (23.45 deg.)
and winter (-23.45 deg. ) solstice.

"Air Mass" is the effective thickness of

the atmospheric path of sunlight relative
to the shortest possible path. An air
mass of 2.0, for example, is twice as
long (thick) as the direct path. When
the sun travels through higher air
masses , less solar energy reaches the
surface of the earth. This is a primary
cause of seasonal weather. Beyond an
air mass of 5.0, little sun will be
received. Air Mass = 1 / sin(solar
altitude
VISUALIZATION OF THE VARYING SOLAR ANGLES
"Solar Noon” occurs when the sun is
at its mid point and highest angle of its
daily path across the sky. The
position of the sun relative to the
horizon at this time is called "True
South'. To determine the time of solar
noon for your particular location, find
out the time of sunrise and sunset.
Solar noon is located at the midpoint
between these times.

"Solar Time” is the measure of time

which a sundial would read at any
particular location. This is different
from "clock' or "standard' time due
mostly to conventions of time zones
and Daylight Savings. Clock time error
can be up to 2 hours from solar
time. This might result in something
up to a 30o error in predicting the
sun's position.
VISUALIZATION OF THE VARYING SOLAR ANGLES
Two angles of general interest to
architects are the AZIMUTH and
ALTITUDE angles. These angles express
the polar coordinates of the sun's position
relative to a location on the earth's surface
and provide general ideas about
availability of solar energy and shading
strategies at a particular time of year and
day.

"Solar Azimuth” is the bearing of the sun

from true south. At solar noon, the sun is
at true south and the solar azimuth angle
is defined as 0. Morning angles are
measured as negative.

"Solar Altitude” is the bearing of the sun

above the horizon. At sunrise and sunset,
the solar altitude angle is 0. At solar noon,
the sun reaches its highest point (greatest
altitude).
VISUALIZATION OF THE VARYING SOLAR ANGLES
Summer Solstice (around June 21) at solar noon:

Altitude = (90o - latitude) + 23.45o

Winter Solstice (around December 21) at solar noon:

Altitude = (90o - latitude) - 23.45o

Spring/Fall Equinox (around March 21 and September 21) at solar noon:

Altitude = (90o - latitude)

Usually, architects are concerned
about solar position in relation to
the position of a window or solar
collector. Without a good idea of
the geometry involved, it is not
possible to reliably design a fixed
shading device or optimize
exposure.
"Window Azimuth" is much like the solar azimuth. But where solar
azimuth is concerned with the bearing of the sun from true south, the
window azimuth measures the bearing of the sun on the horizon from
normal (perpendicular in plan) to the window. Before the sun's rays are
normal to the window, the angle is expressed in negative
degrees. Afterwards, the angles are positive.

"Profile Angle" is the vertical angle of the sun measured in section cut
normal (perpendicular) to the window in question. When the window
azimuth angle is 0, the profile angle is equal to the solar altitude angle;
otherwise the profile angle is greater because it is visually foreshortened by
the oblique viewing angle (turn a 45 deg triangle away from a flat elevation
and it becomes progressively steeper until it reaches 90 degrees.

"Incidence Angle" is measured between the angle of the sun's direct rays
and a line normal (perpendicular in all directions) to the surface of the
window. At high angles of incidence, the path length of solar energy
through glazing becomes very long and more energy is reflected and
absorbed. Thus the angle of incidence has an effect on the shading
coefficient and visible light transmittance of windows and skylights.
• The type of glass selected will
greatly affect the penetration of
solar energy into the interior space.
• For maximum solar heat gain, clear
glazing should be selected. This
type of glass can be manufactured
to have a very low iron content to
maximize solar penetration.
• Where solar heat gain is not
desired, as in the case of interior
load dominated buildings, other
types of glazing should be specified
that minimize heat transfer through
the glass. Spectrally selective
glazing has the ability to screen for
certain wavelengths of light.
SOLAR RADIATION
Solar radiation is important to consider in the design of buildings as it is possible to receive 'free
energy' for heating the internal environment from the sun. Depending on the climate, it is also
possible to avoid 'heat gain' if it is not desired.

The intensity of solar radiation outside the earth's atmosphere varies significantly with time of the year
as the earth to sun distance changes. The effect of solar radiation on buildings is complex since the
rate at which energy is delivered is highly variable with latitude, time of year, time of day, weather,
surroundings, orientation of receiving surfaces and transmitting areas, and absorptance and emittance
of receiving areas.
THE SKY DOME SHOWING THE
SUN ANGLES FOR THE
SUN DIRECTION SOLSTICES AND EQUINOX

The sun's position in the sky can be expressed in

terms of the solar altitude, b, above the horizontal
and the solar azimuth, f, measured from the
south. These angles are determined by the local
latitude, L, the solar declination d, , and the
apparent solar time (AST). The solar altitude at solar
noon is given by:

bN = 90o - L + f

The solar altitude at other times of the day depends

on the hour angle, H, which gives the rotation of the
earth in the interval from noon to a particular
time. Since the earth rotates 360 degrees in 24
hours, the hour angle changes 0.25 degrees for each
minute.
This information is necessary in order to establish the THE SKY DOME SHOWING THE
angle of incidence of sunlight for a given surface SUN ANGLES FOR THE
orientation. It is possible to establish by calculation or SOLSTICES AND EQUINOX
by graphical means the shadows cast on surfaces so
oriented by various projections such as window reveals,
eaves, overhangs, and even adjacent constructions.

Overhangs can be used to prevent the sun hitting glazing

surfaces in the summer and prevent the gain of heat
through solar radiation. If the overhangs are sized right,
with the change in sun angle in the winter (it is lower in
the sky) the sun's rays may be allowed to strike the
glazed area permitting solar heat gain at the time of year
it is most desired.

The intensity of the solar radiation varies with the

atmospheric conditions. The sun considered to be at 1.2
times full intensity on clear days, 1.0 times on average
cloudless days, and 0.8 times in industrial areas with
pollution.
SOLAR HEAT GAIN
• Solar radiation of buildings may be incident on opaque surfaces such as roofs or transparent surfaces such as
windows. When the receiving surfaces are opaque, the radiation is partially reflected; the remainder is absorbed, producing
a rise in the surface temperature.
• Since the solar radiation is not constant, the temperature and the associated heat flow vary.
• The thermal storage characteristics as well as the heat transmission properties of the absorbing surfaces become involved
in determining the rate at which heat will be delivered through the construction under the combined effects of the solar
irradiation of the outer surfaces and the outdoor to indoor temperature difference.
• For example, when solar radiation hits dark coloured metal surfaces, the material is able to absorb heat very quickly. This
heat is also lost quickly when the solar source disappears as the material has a low heat capacity.
• When solar radiation strikes concrete, the absorbtion rate is slow; however, the heat capacity of the material for thermal
storage is high, so the heat remains in the material for reradiation long after the solar source is gone. In the case of
windows the transmitted radiation is usually large, the thermal storage of the glass small and usually disregarded.
Because solar gain is different on all facades of a building
it is important to design the windows, glazing selection
and shading devices differently, in accordance with the
sun angles and building exposure.
SHADING DEVICES
South Façade:
Horizontal overhang
or
Brise-soleil
San Cristobal Stables

The Capital (Chandigarh)

SHADING DEVICES
East/West Façade:
Vertical fins angled to the north
and/or
Brise-soleil
Keio University Graduate School Research Center

Monastery of Ste Marie de La Tourette

SHADING DEVICES
North Façade:
Vertical fins (used in hot climates only)

Phoenix Central Library

L: p. 559 fig. 17.10b
SHADING DEVICES
• Vertical
Louvers or Screens

John Deere Headquarters, Moline IL Jewett Art Center, Wellesley, MA

SHADING DEVICES
• Horizontal
Solid and louvered planes, projections or
recesses

Paimio Sanatorium, Finland

Getty Center Los Angeles, CA

SHADING DEVICES
• Sculptural Form
Thickness Projections
Screens

Obayashi Tokyo Design Center Reynolds Aluminum

Building, Detroit, MI

Beach House, Lido Shores, FL Unity Temple, Oak Park, IL