What happens to most incoming solar radiation and how much of the incoming solar energy is absorbed by the atmosphere and clouds?
Respected Sir,
Rk Naresh
When solar radiation from the Sun reaches the Earth, several things can happen to it. Here's a breakdown of the fate of incoming solar radiation:
Absorption by the Atmosphere:
About 23% of incoming solar radiation is absorbed by the Earth's atmosphere. This absorption occurs primarily in the ozone layer and other gases, leading to the warming of the atmosphere.
Reflection:
Approximately 30% of incoming solar radiation is reflected back to space by clouds, atmospheric particles, and the Earth's surface. This portion includes both direct reflection (albedo) and diffuse reflection.
Absorption by the Surface:
Roughly 47% of incoming solar radiation is absorbed by the Earth's surface. This absorption warms the surface and is a crucial driver of various Earth processes, including the water cycle and atmospheric circulation.
Scattering:
Some solar radiation is scattered in different directions by molecules and small particles in the atmosphere. This scattering contributes to the blue color of the sky during the day.
Regarding the specific question about how much of the incoming solar energy is absorbed by the atmosphere and clouds, it's important to note that the atmosphere, including clouds, absorbs only a fraction of the total solar radiation. The majority of absorption occurs in the lower atmosphere and the stratosphere, particularly in the ozone layer.
Clouds play a complex role. They can both reflect incoming solar radiation back to space (increasing Earth's albedo) and absorb and re-radiate infrared radiation emitted by the Earth's surface. The net effect of clouds on the Earth's energy balance depends on their altitude, thickness, and composition.
While a significant portion of incoming solar radiation is absorbed by the Earth's atmosphere, clouds, and surface, the specific distribution of absorption and reflection varies based on atmospheric composition, cloud cover, and surface characteristics.
When incoming solar radiation reaches Earth, it undergoes three primary interactions: reflection, absorption, and transmission.
In summary, the fate of incoming solar radiation is divided as follows:
- Reflected back to space: 30%
- Absorbed by the atmosphere: 23%
- Absorbed by the Earth's surface: 47%
Clouds play a significant role in both reflection and absorption of solar radiation. Their presence can either cool or warm the planet depending on their type, altitude, and optical properties. Low, thick clouds tend to reflect a large portion of incoming solar radiation back to space, while high, thin clouds allow more solar radiation to pass through but also trap some outgoing infrared radiation emitted by the Earth's surface, contributing to warming.
Some of this incoming radiation is reflected off clouds, some is absorbed by the atmosphere, and some passes through to the Earth's surface. Larger aerosol particles in the atmosphere interact with and absorb some of the radiation, causing the atmosphere to warm.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. At latitudes near the equator the Earth's surface is almost directly perpendicular to the angle of the sun's rays. In these regions, solar radiation is intense because the sun's energy is concentrated over a small surface area.Scattering of solar radiation occurs when the radiation strikes very small objects in Earth's atmosphere, such as air molecules, tiny water droplets, ice crystals, or aerosols which disperse the solar radiation in all directions. At Earth's average distance from the Sun the average intensity of solar energy reaching the top of the atmosphere directly facing the Sun is about 1,360 watts per square meter. About 23 percent of incoming solar energy is absorbed in the atmosphere by water vapor, dust, and ozone, and 48 percent passes through the atmosphere and is absorbed by the surface. Thus, about 71 percent of the total incoming solar energy is absorbed by the Earth system. Combining together the percentages of incoming energy absorbed (18%) and scattered (26%) by the atmosphere plus clouds, the overall effect is that nearly half (18% + 26% = 44%) of the energy entering the atmosphere doesn't make it through to Earth's surface. About 30 percent of incoming solar radiation is reflected out into space and plays no role in Earth's climate system. 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.~30% is directly reflected back to space by clouds, the earth's surface and different gases and particles in the atmosphere. ~20% is absorbed by the atmosphere and clouds.Approximately 30% of incoming solar radiation is reflected back to space by clouds, atmospheric particles, and the Earth's surface. This portion includes both direct reflection (albedo) and diffuse reflection. Absorption by the Surface: Roughly 47% of incoming solar radiation is absorbed by the Earth's surface. Approximately 30% of incoming solar radiation is reflected back to space by clouds, atmospheric particles, and the Earth's surface. This portion includes both direct reflection (albedo) and diffuse reflection. Absorption by the Surface: Roughly 47% of incoming solar radiation is absorbed by the Earth's surface.
- Badges
- Science topic
- Similar topics
- Agricultural Science
- Agronomy