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Radiation from the sun warms the earth. Increasing amounts of greenhouse gases prevent this heat from reflecting back out into space, causing a global warming of the atmosphere.

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What are the key differences between shortwave radiation and longwave radiation in terms of their impact on the Earth's atmosphere and climate?

Shortwave radiation comes from the sun and is absorbed by the Earth's surface, warming it. Longwave radiation is emitted by the Earth's surface and is absorbed by greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, trapping heat and warming the planet. These differences in radiation play a crucial role in regulating the Earth's temperature and climate.


Of the three main processes in the atmosphere which has the greatest role in warming the upper troposphere?

The process of longwave radiation trapping through the greenhouse effect has the greatest role in warming the upper troposphere. Greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide and water vapor, trap outgoing longwave radiation, leading to a warming effect in the upper troposphere. This process is critical for maintaining Earth's temperature and climate.


What are the differences between long wave radiation and shortwave radiation in terms of their impact on the Earth's atmosphere?

Longwave radiation refers to infrared radiation emitted by the Earth's surface and atmosphere, which can be absorbed by greenhouse gases and contribute to warming the atmosphere. Shortwave radiation, such as sunlight, is absorbed by the Earth's surface and then re-emitted as longwave radiation. This difference in wavelengths affects how energy is distributed in the atmosphere, with longwave radiation playing a key role in the greenhouse effect and shortwave radiation driving the Earth's climate system.


Does solar radiation keep the earth's lower atmosphere warm?

Yes, solar radiation plays a key role in heating Earth's lower atmosphere. Sunlight passes through the atmosphere, warming the surface of the Earth, which in turn heats the air above it. This process helps create the temperature gradient that maintains the Earth's lower atmosphere warm.


What is the role of radiation in heating and cooling the earth?

Radiation from the sun warms the Earth's surface by transferring energy in the form of sunlight. As the Earth's surface absorbs this energy, it heats up and emits infrared radiation back into the atmosphere. Greenhouse gases trap some of this infrared radiation, contributing to the warming of the Earth through the greenhouse effect.

Related Questions

What are the key differences between shortwave radiation and longwave radiation in terms of their impact on the Earth's atmosphere and climate?

Shortwave radiation comes from the sun and is absorbed by the Earth's surface, warming it. Longwave radiation is emitted by the Earth's surface and is absorbed by greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, trapping heat and warming the planet. These differences in radiation play a crucial role in regulating the Earth's temperature and climate.


Of the three main processes in the atmosphere which has the greatest role in warming the upper troposphere?

The process of longwave radiation trapping through the greenhouse effect has the greatest role in warming the upper troposphere. Greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide and water vapor, trap outgoing longwave radiation, leading to a warming effect in the upper troposphere. This process is critical for maintaining Earth's temperature and climate.


What are the differences between long wave radiation and shortwave radiation in terms of their impact on the Earth's atmosphere?

Longwave radiation refers to infrared radiation emitted by the Earth's surface and atmosphere, which can be absorbed by greenhouse gases and contribute to warming the atmosphere. Shortwave radiation, such as sunlight, is absorbed by the Earth's surface and then re-emitted as longwave radiation. This difference in wavelengths affects how energy is distributed in the atmosphere, with longwave radiation playing a key role in the greenhouse effect and shortwave radiation driving the Earth's climate system.


Does solar radiation keep the earth's lower atmosphere warm?

Yes, solar radiation plays a key role in heating Earth's lower atmosphere. Sunlight passes through the atmosphere, warming the surface of the Earth, which in turn heats the air above it. This process helps create the temperature gradient that maintains the Earth's lower atmosphere warm.


Do solar flares cause global warming?

Solar flares do not cause global warming. Global warming is primarily driven by human activities, such as burning fossil fuels and deforestation, which increase the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Solar flares are intense bursts of radiation from the sun that can affect radio communications and satellite technology, but they do not play a significant role in Earth's climate change.


What is the role of radiation in heating and cooling the earth?

Radiation from the sun warms the Earth's surface by transferring energy in the form of sunlight. As the Earth's surface absorbs this energy, it heats up and emits infrared radiation back into the atmosphere. Greenhouse gases trap some of this infrared radiation, contributing to the warming of the Earth through the greenhouse effect.


If clouds absorb only a small amount of solar radiation how is Earth's atmosphere heated?

The Earth's atmosphere is primarily heated through the process of re-radiation, where the Earth's surface absorbs incoming solar radiation and then releases it as heat energy. This heat is then trapped within the atmosphere by greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide, water vapor, and methane, resulting in an overall warming effect. While clouds do reflect some solar radiation back into space, they also play a role in trapping heat through their greenhouse effect.


The surface of the earth is warmed mainly by conduction or convection or radiation?

The surface of the Earth is primarily warmed by radiation from the sun. The sun emits heat in the form of electromagnetic radiation that is absorbed by the Earth's surface, warming it up. Conduction and convection also play a role in distributing this heat throughout the atmosphere and the oceans.


How do plants increase global warming?

Plants don't increase global warming. In fact, they do the opposite.Plants, trees and all vegetation reduce the effect of global warming by removing from the atmosphere these gases like carbon dioxide and storing the carbon in their trunks and branches. They help to reduce global warming.


Which gas traps heat and helps cause global warming?

Carbon dioxide (CO2) is the gas that traps heat in the atmosphere and contributes to global warming. Other greenhouse gases like methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) also play a role in trapping heat in the atmosphere.


Does the energy move from earths surface and atmosphere out of space through radiation conduction or convection?

conduction because there is more heat in space then there is in earth


What layers are involved in the greenhouse effect?

The greenhouse effect involves the troposphere and the stratosphere layers of the Earth's atmosphere. In the troposphere, greenhouse gases trap heat radiating from the Earth's surface, warming the lower atmosphere. In the stratosphere, ozone plays a key role in absorbing harmful ultraviolet radiation from the sun.