Sunshine recorders are instruments used to measure the amount of sunshine or solar radiation received in a particular area. There are different synonyms for these recorders, including sunshine meters, solarimeters, and pyranometers. A sunshine meter is a device that measures the intensity of sunshine, while a solarimeter is used to measure the total sunlight received over a period. A pyranometer, on the other hand, is a device that measures the global or total radiation from the sun and the sky. These instruments are essential in monitoring and understanding the solar radiation levels in different regions, which helps in the fields of agriculture, energy, and climate research.