insolation

noun /ˌɪnsoʊˈleɪʃən/

1. The incident radiant energy emitted by the sun which reaches a unit area over a period of time, typically measured over a horizontal area at the Earth's surface or at the top of Earth's atmosphere.

   uncountable

   The difference in insolation between north-facing and south-facing slopes can affect microclimates as much as hundreds of miles of north-south distance on level ground.

2. The rate of delivery of such radiation.

   uncountable

3. sunstroke.

   dated, uncountable

Where it comes from

Borrowed from French insolation, from Latin insolatio (“a setting or placing in the sun”).

Adapted from the Wiktionary entry insolation (CC BY-SA 4.0).

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