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Clouds play a crucial role in regulating Earth's energy balance by influencing both solar radiation and infrared radiation. They reflect incoming solar energy, which helps to cool the surface, while also trapping outgoing infrared radiation, contributing to the greenhouse effect. This dual role of clouds can either warm or cool the planet, depending on their type, altitude, and thickness. Overall, clouds are essential in modulating climate and weather patterns, affecting global temperatures.

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What happens to most of the solar energy that reaches earths atmosphere?

Most of the solar energy that reaches Earth's atmosphere is either reflected back into space or absorbed by the atmosphere and clouds. Approximately 30% of this energy is reflected by clouds, aerosols, and the Earth's surface, while about 70% is absorbed, warming the atmosphere, oceans, and land. This absorbed energy drives weather patterns and supports life by powering photosynthesis in plants. Ultimately, some of this energy is re-radiated back into space as infrared radiation.


Radiant energy is reflected from the Earth and back into space by .?

Radiant energy is reflected from the Earth and back into space primarily by clouds, ice, and snow, which have high albedo and effectively reflect sunlight. Additionally, surfaces like oceans and forests also contribute to the reflection, though to a lesser extent. This reflection plays a crucial role in regulating the Earth's temperature and energy balance.


What happens to solar energy that is coming to earth?

When solar energy reaches Earth, a portion is absorbed by the atmosphere, clouds, and the surface, warming the planet. Some of it is reflected back into space, while the remainder drives photosynthesis in plants and contributes to weather patterns and ocean currents. This energy is crucial for sustaining life and regulating climate systems. Ultimately, solar energy is transformed into various forms of energy, such as thermal energy and chemical energy, supporting ecosystems and human activities.


How much of the suns energy is absorbed by air and clouds?

Approximately 20% of the Sun's energy that reaches the Earth is absorbed by the atmosphere, including air and clouds. Clouds contribute significantly to this absorption, as they can trap heat and reflect sunlight. This interaction plays a key role in the Earth's energy balance and climate system. The remaining energy is either reflected back into space or reaches the Earth's surface.


What happens when the suns energy hits the earth atmosphere?

When the Sun's energy reaches the Earth's atmosphere, it undergoes several processes, including reflection, absorption, and scattering. About 30% of the incoming solar energy is reflected back into space by clouds, atmospheric particles, and the Earth's surface. The remaining energy is absorbed by the atmosphere and the Earth's surface, warming the planet and driving weather patterns, climate systems, and photosynthesis in plants. This interplay is essential for maintaining life and regulating the Earth's environment.

Related Questions

What affect what they cloud cover have on the temperature of earths surface?

Cloud cover can have a cooling effect by reflecting sunlight back into space (albedo effect) or a warming effect by trapping heat radiated by the Earth (greenhouse effect). The net impact on temperature depends on the type of clouds, their altitude, and the time of day. Overall, clouds play a crucial role in regulating the Earth's energy balance and influencing surface temperatures.


Would more of the suns energy reach the earths surface on a sunny day or a cloudy day?

More energy will reach the surface on a sunny day. Clouds reflect about half of the light that hits them, and this energy goes back into space.


Much of the sun radiation is reflected back into space by the earths what?

Much of the sun's radiation is reflected back into space by the Earth's atmosphere, clouds, and surface. The atmosphere scatters and absorbs some solar energy, while clouds can reflect sunlight back into space. Additionally, surfaces like ice, snow, and water can also reflect sunlight, a phenomenon known as albedo. Together, these elements play a crucial role in regulating the Earth's temperature and climate.


Where is the earths energy released?

Earths energy is released when there is too much heat inside of Earth and volcano's erupt.


How does the atmosphere reflect energy?

The atmosphere reflects incoming solar energy in the form of sunlight. Different components of the atmosphere, such as clouds, dust particles, and gases, can scatter or absorb sunlight, which affects how much energy reaches Earth's surface. This energy exchange plays a key role in regulating Earth's climate and temperature.


How do clouds reflect sunlight and impact the Earth's climate?

Clouds reflect sunlight by scattering and absorbing incoming solar radiation. This reflection can have a cooling effect on the Earth's surface by reducing the amount of sunlight that reaches it. Additionally, clouds can also trap heat emitted by the Earth, acting as a blanket that helps to regulate the planet's temperature. Overall, clouds play a crucial role in regulating the Earth's climate by influencing the balance of incoming and outgoing energy.


Are clouds a renewable source of energy?

No, clouds are not a source of energy. They are just puffs of water vapor floating in the sky. Wind and water are sources of energy.


What happens to most of the solar energy that reaches earths atmosphere?

Most of the solar energy that reaches Earth's atmosphere is either reflected back into space or absorbed by the atmosphere and clouds. Approximately 30% of this energy is reflected by clouds, aerosols, and the Earth's surface, while about 70% is absorbed, warming the atmosphere, oceans, and land. This absorbed energy drives weather patterns and supports life by powering photosynthesis in plants. Ultimately, some of this energy is re-radiated back into space as infrared radiation.


Is true that once the energy has left earths surface it can not be reabsorbed?

No. It is not true that once energy has left the earth's surface it can not be reabsorbed. Clouds overhead act like a blanket and reflect energy back to the earth's surface. As a result deserts are usually cooler at night than other areas at the same latitudes.


Do clouds obtain energy?

Clouds do not obtain energy in the traditional sense. Clouds are formed by condensation of water vapor in the atmosphere, which is driven by changes in temperature and pressure. Clouds play a role in the Earth's energy balance by reflecting sunlight back into space and trapping heat, which affects the climate.


What are the three things that happens to the radiation the Earth receives from the sun?

It is reflected back out into space (e.g off clouds)It is captured by plants in photosynthesisIt warms the air and makes the weather systems on Earth and the ocean circulationsIt becomes trapped (over time) as fossil fuels.


Are clouds an energy source?

Clouds are not an energy source themselves, but they can affect the amount of solar energy reaching the Earth's surface by reflecting, absorbing, and scattering sunlight. This can impact the overall availability of solar energy for technologies like solar panels.