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Solar energy that reaches the Earth is either absorbed, or reflected back into space. Water or clouds reflect the energy, and about 30% of all the sunlight that hits the Earth is reflected away.
Of the solar energy, that is absorbed, some of it becomes heat, and some of that is re-radiated into space at night. This is why clear nights are often so cold; the Earth's heat is being radiated back into space. On cloudy nights, the heat is trapped between the surface and the clouds, keeping things warmer.
Some of the sunlight/heat goes into evaporating water from lakes or rivers, and the water vapor falls as rain later on. Some of the rain is trapped in reservoirs, or runs through dams and turbines, so hydroelectric power is actually solar power.
Some of the sunlight is absorbed by plants, and the living cells of the plants use photosynthesis to convert other matter such as soil and water into wood or plant matter. If we burn the wood, we're actually releasing solar energy back into the environment.
Plants die and fall to the ground, and eventually decay. Over the course of millions of years, the decaying organic material becomes fossilized, compressed, and transformed; it becomes coal, or oil, or natural gas. Those "fossil fuels" are actually million-year-old trapped solar energy!
The energy balance of the Earth is maintained because if the Earth heats up much, the heat helps evaporate water that forms clouds; the clouds are reflective, and more sunlight is reflected away.
What else can I help you with?
Are all of the solar energy intercepted by the earth arrive as oblique rays?
No, not all solar energy intercepted by the Earth arrives as oblique rays. Solar energy reaches the Earth in the form of parallel rays, but the angle at which these rays strike the surface varies based on the Earth's curvature and its axial tilt. This variation causes some regions to receive sunlight more directly (perpendicular rays) while others receive it at an angle (oblique rays). Consequently, the intensity of solar energy varies across different locations and times of the year.
From were does the earth get solar energy?
The Earth gets its solar energy from the sun. We are the perfect distance away to harvest this resource.
How is the solar energy transferred to earth affected by different materials on earth?
By the sun
What 2 types of energy does the sun give to the earth?
Radioactive and solar energy (or light and heat).
What causes convection currents to form in Earth's atmosphere?
Solar energy
What happens to solar energy that reaches Earth?
In India we have 300 sunny days - but we ignore this renewable energy to produce electricity.
What happens to most solar radiation when it reaches the surface of Earth what happens?
Most of the solar radiation is absorbed when it reaches the surface of the earth. Some of the solar radiation is also absorbed in the atmosphere.
Describe what happens to solar energy that reaches the Earth?
Solar energy that reaches the Earth is either absorbed by the atmosphere, clouds, or surface of the Earth, leading to heating. Some solar energy is reflected back into space by clouds, the atmosphere, and the Earth's surface. This energy drives various processes on Earth, including weather patterns, photosynthesis in plants, and the water cycle.
What happens to the energy from the sun when it reaches earth's surface?
What happens to Solar Energy is that some of it gets absorbed into air, land and water while the rest gets reflected back to space.
Which of the is the main source of energy that reaches earth?
Solar radiation.
What happens to energy from the Sun when it reaches Earth's atmosphere and surfaces?
What happens to Solar Energy is that some of it gets absorbed into air, land and water while the rest gets reflected back to space.
Solar energy travels to the earth in?
Energy from the sun travels to the earth's surface is brought here by electromagnetic radiation. Once the radiation reaches the planet, most of it is converted to heat.
Most solar energy that reaches earth's atmosphere is absorbed by whtat?
Most solar energy that reaches Earth's atmosphere is absorbed by the surface of the Earth, such as the land, oceans, and vegetation. This absorption heats up the Earth's surface and is then radiated back into the atmosphere as heat energy.
What is the term given to the sun's energy that reaches the earth?
Insolation, or solar radiation.
How long does solar energy take?
Solar energy reaches Earth instantaneously as sunlight, but it takes time to convert this energy into electricity through solar panels. Once sunlight is absorbed by solar panels, it can be converted into electricity. This process happens in milliseconds.
The suns energy reaches the earth as what type of energy?
The sun's energy reaches the Earth as solar radiation in the form of electromagnetic waves, primarily in the form of visible light and infrared radiation.
What percentage of the solar energy the reaches the outer atmosphere is absorbed at the earth's surface?
Roughly 70% of the solar energy that reaches the outer atmosphere is absorbed by the Earth's surface. The remaining percentage is reflected back into space by clouds, aerosols, and the Earth's surface.
