Not all solar radiation reaches the Earth's surface because it is absorbed or scattered by the atmosphere. The atmosphere is made up of gases, water vapor, and particles, all of which can interact with sunlight.

Absorption occurs when sunlight hits a molecule or particle and is converted into heat. This is how the atmosphere is heated, and it is also how we feel the warmth of the sun on our skin.

Scattering occurs when sunlight hits a molecule or particle and is deflected in a different direction. This is why the sky appears blue on a clear day; the blue light from the sun is scattered more than the other colors.

The amount of solar radiation that is absorbed or scattered by the atmosphere depends on a number of factors, including:

• The angle of the sun's rays. When the sun is high in the sky, its rays travel through less of the atmosphere, so less of the radiation is absorbed or scattered.
• The wavelength of the radiation. Different wavelengths of light are absorbed and scattered differently by the atmosphere. For example, ultraviolet radiation is absorbed by the ozone layer, while infrared radiation is absorbed by water vapor and carbon dioxide.
• The amount of cloud cover. Clouds are very good at scattering and absorbing solar radiation.

On average, about 30% of solar radiation is reflected back into space by the atmosphere. The remaining 70% is absorbed by the atmosphere and the Earth's surface.

The solar radiation that is absorbed by the atmosphere heats the atmosphere and contributes to the greenhouse effect. The greenhouse effect is a natural process that keeps the Earth's surface warm enough for life. However, human activities, such as burning fossil fuels, are releasing additional greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, which is causing the greenhouse effect to become stronger and the Earth to warm.

The solar radiation that is absorbed by the Earth's surface heats the land and oceans. This heat drives the global climate system and produces weather patterns such as wind, rain, and snow.

So, to summarize, solar radiation that is not reflected back into space is either absorbed by the atmosphere or the Earth's surface. The solar radiation that is absorbed by the atmosphere heats the atmosphere and contributes to the greenhouse effect. The solar radiation that is absorbed by the Earth's surface heats the land and oceans and drives the global climate system.

Dr Murtadha Shukur thank you for your contribution to the discussion

Not all of the Sun's energy that enters Earth's atmosphere makes it to the surface. The atmosphere reflects some of the incoming solar energy back to space immediately and absorbs still more energy before it can reach the surface. The remaining energy strikes Earth and warms the surface. 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. The earth's atmosphere absorbs the majority of ultraviolet, X-, and gamma rays, which are all shorter wavelengths than visible light. High energy X- and gamma rays would damage organisms and cells of creatures if they were to reach the earth's surface directly. Of all of the solar energy reaching the Earth, about 30% is reflected back into space from the atmosphere, clouds, and surface of the Earth. Another 23% of the energy is absorbed by the water vapor, clouds, and dust in the atmosphere, where it is converted into heat. The sun's radiation must make it through multiple barriers before it reaches Earth's surface. The first barrier is the atmosphere. About 26% of the sun's energy is reflected or scattered back into space by clouds and particulates in the atmosphere 34. Another 18% of solar energy is absorbed in the atmosphere. Solar radiation that is not absorbed or reflected by the atmosphere reaches the surface of the Earth. The Earth absorbs most of the energy reaching its surface, a small fraction is reflected. About 29 percent of the solar energy that arrives at the top of the atmosphere is reflected back to space by clouds, atmospheric particles, or bright ground surfaces like sea ice and snow. This energy plays no role in Earth's climate system.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.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.