EVERYDAY SCIENCE

Detailed explanation-1: -The Earth absorbs most of the energy reaching its surface, a small fraction is reflected. In total approximately 70% of incoming radiation is absorbed by the atmosphere and the Earth’s surface while around 30% is reflected back to space and does not heat the surface.

Detailed explanation-2: -Sunlight, shortwave radiation, passes through the atmosphere. Most of Earth’s energy comes from the Sun. Shortwave solar radiation that’s absorbed by Earth’s surface or atmosphere is re-radiated it as longwave, infrared radiation, also known as heat.

Detailed explanation-3: -Of the remaining 70 percent, 23 percent of incoming solar radiation is absorbed in the atmosphere, either by water vapor, atmospheric particles, dust and ozone. The remaining 47 percent passes through the atmosphere and is absorbed in Earth’s land and sea-which makes up nearly 71 percent of the entire world.

Detailed explanation-4: -Just under half (47%) of the incoming solar radiation is absorbed by the land and ocean, and this energy heats up the Earth’s surface. The energy absorbed by the Earth returns to the atmosphere through three processes; conduction, radiation, and latent heat (phase change) (figure 8.2.