In what form is radiation emitted from the earth's surface back into the atmosphere and what happens when infrared radiation reaches Earth?
The radiation emitted from the Earth's surface back into the atmosphere is in the form of longwave infrared radiation. This is because all objects with a temperature above absolute zero emit infrared radiation. The Earth's average surface temperature is about 15 degrees Celsius, so it emits infrared radiation in a range of wavelengths, but most of it is in the longwave infrared range.
When infrared radiation reaches Earth, it can be absorbed by the atmosphere, reflected by clouds, or scattered by air molecules. The amount of infrared radiation that is absorbed by the atmosphere depends on the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Greenhouse gases, such as water vapor, carbon dioxide, and methane, absorb infrared radiation and re-emit it in all directions, including back to the Earth's surface. This process is known as the greenhouse effect.
The greenhouse effect is essential for life on Earth. It helps to keep the Earth's average surface temperature at a comfortable level. However, human activities, such as burning fossil fuels, are increasing the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. This is causing the greenhouse effect to become stronger, which is leading to global warming.
Here is a summary of what happens when infrared radiation reaches Earth:
- Some of the infrared radiation is absorbed by the atmosphere, mostly by greenhouse gases.
- The absorbed infrared radiation is re-emitted in all directions, including back to the Earth's surface.
- Some of the infrared radiation is reflected by clouds and scattered by air molecules.
- The reflected and scattered infrared radiation is either sent back into space or absorbed by the atmosphere.
The net effect of the greenhouse effect is to warm the Earth's surface. This is because more infrared radiation is absorbed by the atmosphere than is reflected or scattered back into space.
The sun's visible wavelengths of radiation pass easily through the atmosphere and reach Earth. Approximately 51% of this sunlight is absorbed at Earth's surface by the land, water, and vegetation. Some of this energy is emitted back from the Earth's surface in the form of infrared radiation. The earth and its atmosphere emit infrared radiation with wavelengths longer than those of solar radiation because their temperature is lower than that of the sun's surface. Most of the energy of the infrared radiation emitted from the earth and its atmosphere is concentrated in the 3 - 100 μm range. Atmospheric radiation is the flow of electromagnetic energy between the sun and the Earth's surface as it is influenced by clouds, aerosols, and gases in the Earth's atmosphere. It includes both solar radiation (sunlight) and long-wave (thermal) radiation. The Earth's atmosphere, clouds, and the surface absorb solar energy, the ground heats up and re-emit the energy as long wave radiation in the form of infrared rays. Infrared radiation absorbed by Earth's surface warms the surrounding air. Earth absorbs infrared radiation and converts it to thermal energy. As the surface absorbs heat from the sun, it becomes warmer than the surrounding atmosphere. As incident solar radiation hits Earth, some of this energy is absorbed by the atmosphere and the surface, thereby warming the planet. When visible light and high frequency infrared radiation are absorbed by the surface of the Earth, the planet's internal energy. increases and the surface gets hotter. Some of this energy is transferred to the atmosphere by conduction. Infrared radiation absorbed by Earth's surface warms the surrounding air. Earth absorbs infrared radiation and converts it to thermal energy. As the surface absorbs heat from the sun, it becomes warmer than the surrounding atmosphere.
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