pyrheliometer

[ pahyuhr-hee-lee-om-i-ter, pir- ]

noun

, Astrophysics.

1. an instrument for measuring the total intensity of the sun's energy radiation.

pyrheliometer

/ pəˌhiːlɪˈɒmɪtə; pəˌhiːlɪəʊˈmɛtrɪk /

noun

1. an instrument for measuring the intensity of the sun's radiant energy

pyrheliometer

/ pīr′hē-lē-ŏm′ĭ-tər /

1. An instrument used to measure the total amount of radiation from the Sun that hits a surface. It works by converting the Sun's heat into a voltage that is then recorded by a voltmeter.

Derived Forms

• pyrheliometric, adjective

Other Words From

• pyr·he·li·o·met·ric [pahy, uh, r-hee-lee-, uh, -, me, -trik, pir-], adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of pyrheliometer¹

First recorded in 1860–65; pyr- + helio- + -meter

Example Sentences

Pyrheliometer, pir-hē-li-om′e-tėr, n. an instrument for measuring the intensity of the sun.—adj.

From Project Gutenberg

Humphreys gathers together and amplifies all that he and Abbot and Fowle have previously said as to observations of the sun's thermal radiation by means of the pyrheliometer.

From Project Gutenberg

Herschell’s actinometer and Pouillet’s pyrheliometer, instruments for ascertaining the absolute heating effect of the sun’s rays, should, however, be more generally employed by meteorologists.

From Project Gutenberg

A few days previous to the beginning of that year, Herschel began observing at the Cape of Good Hope with an "actinometer," and obtained results agreeing quite satisfactorily with those derived by Pouillet from experiments made in France some months later with a "pyrheliometer."

From Project Gutenberg

This Volume deals with the letters "P," "R," "S," and any person wishing to master a few really interesting subjects for dinner conversation will read and learn up all about Procyon, Pizemysi, and Pyrheliometer, Quotelet, Quintal, and Quito, Regulus, Ramazan, Rheumatism, Rhynchops, Rum-Shrub, and Rupar, Samoyedes, Semiquaver, Sahjehanpur, Silket, Sinter, and Size.

From Project Gutenberg