How much solar energy is absorbed in Point Barrow, Alaska in the summer (when there is 100% open water off shore)?

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The question asks about how much solar energy is absorbed in Point Barrow, Alaska during the summer when there is 100% open water offshore.
Option 1: 880 W/m2. This value aligns with typical absorbed solar flux for high-latitude summer conditions when there is open water, considering the solar constant, the sun’s elevation angle in summer, and surface properties like albedo for water. It represents a plausible mid-to-high range for absorbed solar radiation in such coastal Arctic conditions.
Option 2: 600 W/m2. This would correspond to a noticeably lower absorbed energy, which could occur if the sun were lower in the sky, ice cover persisted, or albedo were significantly higher. In the stated scenario of 100% open water, these factors are less supportive, making 600 W/m2 less likely.
Option 3: 1000 W/m2. This exceeds the solar constant when averaged over the day and accounts for typical atmospheric attenuation and the angle of incidence. While instantaneous solar flux can peak higher, especially at noon with minimal atmospheric loss, 1000 W/m2 is generally too high for an averaged summer value in this Arctic coastal setting.
Option 4: 120 W/m2. This is far too low for summer conditions with open water offshore; it would be more characteristic of deep overcast conditions, high albedo from surfaces, or substantial atmospheric scattering not indicated in the scenario. In open-water Arctic summer, energy absorption is substantially greater than 120 W/m2.
In summary, among the options, 880 W/m2 is the most consistent with typical absorbed solar energy in Point Barrow during Arctic summer with open water offshore, while the other values do not realistically reflect that combination of geometry, atmospheric effects, and surface properties.

How much solar energy is absorbed in Point Barrow, Alaska in the summer (when there is 100% open water off shore)?

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