The atmosphere and clouds directly absorb about 20 percent of the solar radiation that strikes Earth. How does the sun indirectly warm the atmosphere?
1 Answer
Feb 11, 2018
By warming the Earth.
Explanation:
The atmosphere does not block sunlight. This is evident as when there are no clouds in the sky we have a bright day, and even when there are clouds in the sky we are not plunged into darkness. That is visible light and it is shortwave radiation at around 0.5 microns.
Since it is not blocked by the atmosphere, it can freely reach the Earth. The Earth blocks (absorbs) this energy however. In absorbing that energy the Earth heats up. Heat is long-wave radiation (about 10 microns). Long-wave radiation released by the warmer Earth is absorbed by the atmosphere and that heats the atmosphere.
