irradiance
noun
ir·ra·di·ance
i-ˈrā-dē-ən(t)s 
1
2
: the density of radiation incident on a given surface usually expressed in watts per square centimeter or square meter
Examples of irradiance in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Solar irradiance is the amount of power that falls on the surface of the earth, measured in watts per square meter (W/m2).
—
Ian Dexter Palmer, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
Solar power works for missions close to the sun, but by the time a spacecraft gets to Jupiter, the available solar irradiance drops below 4 percent of that on Earth.
—IEEE Spectrum, 25 Aug. 2025
Corwin and her colleagues specifically looked at the impact of wildfire smoke on irradiance, or the amount of solar light that makes its way to the surface of a panel.
—Sharon Udasin, The Hill, 6 Jan. 2025
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Ian Dexter Palmer, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
Solar power works for missions close to the sun, but by the time a spacecraft gets to Jupiter, the available solar irradiance drops below 4 percent of that on Earth.
—IEEE Spectrum, 25 Aug. 2025
Corwin and her colleagues specifically looked at the impact of wildfire smoke on irradiance, or the amount of solar light that makes its way to the surface of a panel.
—Sharon Udasin, The Hill, 6 Jan. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Irradiance.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/irradiance. Accessed 22 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
irradiance
noun
ir·ra·di·ance
ir-ˈād-ē-ən(t)s
: the density of radiation incident on a given surface usually expressed in watts per square centimeter or square meter
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