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Most of the solar energy reaching planet Earth and its atmosphere is absorbed by what?
Wiki User
∙ 14y ago
earths surface
Wiki User
∙ 14y ago
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How do you distinguish between the biosphere and atmosphere?
Atmosphere is the gaseous envelope that surrounds a planet and is held in place by gravity. Biosphere is the zone on and around a planet that sustains life.
Can a really small planet have an atmosphere?
That depends on when you consider a planet to be "really small." Mars is much smaller than Earth, but it still retains an atmosphere. Mercury, the smallest planet in the solar system, does not have an atmosphere, but it is also very close to the sun, which would tend to drive away atmospheric gasses.
What 2 conditions must be present on a planet if it is to have an atmosphere?
enough mass to keep it in placesource to create the atmosphere gasses
What characteristics determine whether a planet or moon can maintain an atmosphere?
gravity and temperature; It needs gravity so it can hold its atmosphere.
The only planet with a bountiful supply of water?
Earth is the only planet with a bountiful supply of water.
What happens to solar energy when it enters the atmosphere?
Over half is either reflected, deflected or absorbed as it enters our atmosphere. Of the remaining 47% that hits our planet, most is reflected as visible light and passes through the atmosphere and out into space. Some energy is absorbed by the planet and released as infrared radiation. A small portion of this is absorbed by water vapor and CO2 and is released at night to keep the planet warm and alive.
How much sunlight is absorbed into the atmosphere?
Our current atmosphere absorbs about 16% of the incoming radiation. Another 30% is reflected as it is entering. Some is scattered into space through deflection. Less then half of the energy hitting the atmosphere makes it to our planet. Most of the energy hitting bounces off of it as visible light. (albedo effect). Visible light will pass through the atmosphere pretty much unabated. A portion of the energy hitting our planet is absorbed by planets or converted nto infrared energy. The infrared radiation is slowly released during the night hours. A portion of this is absorbed by greenhouse gases and that energy is also released during the evening to keep the planet warm and alive.
How much amount of solar energy by earth every day?
The average solar radiation hitting the planet is considered to be about 352 watts/meter squared. Total radiation hitting our atmosphere is about 1366 watts/meter squared. The rest of this energy is absorbed or reflected by the atmosphere.
Why mercury is not the hottest planet in Solar System?
Because it has no atmosphere and thus no greenhouse gases. Greenhouse gases absorbs infrared heat emitted by an object and redistribute the energy throughout out a planet. Since there are no greenhouse gases present on Mercury, the energy absorbed by the planet can also escape the planet at a much greater rate into the vacuum that is space, thus keeping the surface temperature of the planet well below freezing
How does Saturn's atmosphere effect Saturn?
The planet Saturn itself is actually mostly atmosphere. it has the fastest windspeed of any planet, with winds reaching more than 700 miles per hour.
Why is Mercury the hottest planet in the solar system?
Because it has no atmosphere and thus no greenhouse gases. Greenhouse gases absorbs infrared heat emitted by an object and redistribute the energy throughout out a planet. Since there are no greenhouse gases present on Mercury, the energy absorbed by the planet can also escape the planet at a much greater rate into the vacuum that is space, thus keeping the surface temperature of the planet well below freezing
Why is wind energy better for the planet?
Wind Energy does not affect the atmosphere. Fossil Fuels create smog and smoke which damages the atmosphere.
Why do some planets have storms?
If a planet has an atmosphere and that atmosphere interacts with the surface and/or gets energy from the planet and/or the Sun then turbulence will arise and storms may form.
Does temperature increases on increase in altitude?
No. It may be tempting to assume that the sun warms the outermost atmosphere more because it is closer to this layer. However, we know this is not the case. Anyone that has ever climbed to the peak of a mountain knows that things get colder as they make their ascent. Indeed, it is clearly evident that the atmosphere warms from the bottom up, not from the top down. But how is this possible when the sun is closer to the top of the atmosphere? To answer this question you need to know how the greenhouse effect works. Greenhouse warming is the process that heats up planet atmospheres. Without gases like water, carbon dioxide, and methane our planet would be too cold to sustain life. The reason sunlight does not warm the upper portions of the atmosphere is because energy from visible light is barely absorbed by these greenhouse gases. Infrared heat is what greenhouse gasses are notorious for absorbing. Since infrared heat cannot travel through the vacuum of space, the upper atmosphere of our planet is not initially heated as a wave of solar radiation makes its way to our planet. The sunlight must first propagate through the atmosphere all the way to the earth's surface where it is absorbed. After being absorbed at the surface of earth, energy is released as infrared heat. As soon as the energy is emitted from the surface, it is collected in the lower 'greenhouse blanket'. A lesser amount of this energy reaches the upper atmosphere. Hence, the sun is indirectly responsible for warming our atmosphere; it is the surface of earth that actually does the warming.
What can cause a change in climate due to dust particles?
dust particles in the atmosphere can block sunlight reaching the surface of the planet causing temp to drop.
What the most ultraviolet radiation is blocked from reaching earths surface by what substance found in the atmosphere?
Ozone in the atmosphere blocks most of the UV radiation from the Sun... Without it's protection - the planet would overheat.
Does a planet need an atmosphere?
No. The planet Mercury does not have an atmosphere.
