What happens to the radiant energy that comes from the sun to the Earth and where does radiant energy go when it reaches Earth?
Radiant energy that comes from the Sun to the Earth is known as solar radiation. It is a combination of electromagnetic waves with different wavelengths, including visible light, ultraviolet light, and infrared radiation.
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Radiant energy that comes from the sun to the Earth
Most of the solar radiation that reaches the Earth's atmosphere, about 30%, is reflected back into space. The remaining 70% of the solar radiation passes through the atmosphere and reaches the surface of the Earth. Here, it is absorbed, scattered, and reflected in different ways.
One way in which solar radiation is absorbed is by the Earth's land and water surfaces. This absorption heats up the Earth's surface, which in turn drives a variety of other processes, such as the evaporation of water and the movement of air.
Some of the solar radiation that reaches the Earth's surface is also scattered. This scattering is what causes the sky to appear blue. Sunlight is scattered more by shorter wavelengths, such as blue light, than by longer wavelengths, such as red light. This is why the sky appears blue during the day when the Sun is high in the sky, and red at sunrise and sunset when the Sun is low on the horizon.
Finally, some of the solar radiation that reaches the Earth's surface is reflected. This reflection is what allows us to see objects. When light strikes an object, some of it is absorbed, some of it is scattered, and some of it is reflected. The amount of light that is reflected depends on the surface properties of the object. For example, a white object reflects more light than a black object.
The Sun's radiant energy is essential for life on Earth. It powers photosynthesis, which plants use to convert light energy into chemical energy. This chemical energy is then used to produce food, which all other living things on Earth depend on. The Sun's energy also drives the Earth's climate and weather patterns.
In addition to its role in supporting life on Earth, the Sun's radiant energy is also a renewable energy source that can be used to generate electricity, heat water, and power a variety of other applications. Solar energy is becoming increasingly popular as a clean and sustainable alternative to fossil fuels.
Most of the energy that passes through the upper atmosphere and reaches Earth's surface is in two forms, visible and infrared light. The majority of this light is in the visible spectrum. As sunlight enters the Earth system one of two different things can happen: it can either be absorbed or reflected. 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 long wave, infrared radiation, also known as heat. Most of the solar radiation is absorbed by the atmosphere, and much of what reaches the Earth's surface is radiated back into the atmosphere to become heat energy. 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. Earth returns an equal amount of energy back to space by reflecting some incoming light and by radiating heat (thermal infrared energy). Most solar energy is absorbed at the surface, while most heat is radiated back to space by the atmosphere. Insolation is the solar radiation that reaches the earth's surface. It is measured by the amount of solar energy received per square centimeter per minute. Solar energy, in the form of radiation, is constantly moving through space; bathing our planet and its atmosphere. The radiation that arrives at the top of the atmosphere is either reflected or absorbed. Most of the solar radiation is absorbed by the atmosphere, and much of what reaches the Earth's surface is radiated back into the atmosphere to become heat energy. Dark colored objects, such as asphalt, absorb radiant energy faster than light colored objects. About 30 percent of the solar energy that reaches Earth is reflected back into space. The rest is absorbed into Earth's atmosphere. The radiation warms Earth's surface, and the surface radiates some of the energy back out in the form of infrared waves. The photons emitted by these moving charged particles will travel at the speed of light until they hit another particle, which absorbs its energy as kinetic energy. Interacting systems at different temperatures will do so by the exchange of radiant heat until they reach thermal equilibrium with one another.
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