OverviewLife on EarthMeasurementComposition and powerIntensity in the Solar SystemVariations in solar irradianceSolar irradianceSurface illumination and spectrum
The existence of nearly all life on Earth is fueled by light from the Sun. Most autotrophs, such as plants, use the energy of sunlight, combined with carbon dioxide and water, to produce simple sugars—a process known as photosynthesis. These sugars are then used as building-blocks and in other synthetic pathways that allow the organism to grow.