What is meant by insolation? State two of its main characteristics.

The amount of solar energy received by the Earth is called insolation.

Two main characteristics of insolation are-

1. The Sun's energy reaches the Earth as short wave rays.
2. Out of the total 100% solar energy, only 51% reaches the Earth, 35% is reflected back into space and only 14% is absorbed by the atmospheric layers including the ozone during insolation.