Because it is generally of a very high energy level, allowing it to be transmitted (rather than absorbed, reflected, or scattered off of molecules of gases or larger particles) straight to the ground. This has to do with the size of these particles relative to the very short wavelength of this radiation, and also to the preference of these molecules of gas to absorb gases of different wavelengths. Though in reality, quite a bit of it IS absorbed by gases, scattered by particles, and reflected by clouds. This is the biggest reason it remains so cold in polar regions in the summer, even when there are 24 hours of sun: it must pass through such a thick layer of atmosphere due to the tilt of the sphere of the Earth, that only a relatively small amount can make it to the surface.
When it heats up the surface of the Earth, which then emits its own radiation (at a much longer wavelength, and therefore lower energy level, than the sun because the Earth is much cooler than the sun), this "longwave radiation" tends to get absorbed much more readily by the atmosphere, and this is the essence of the greenhouse effect.
Sol.The Sun is the source of radiation for both the earth's atmosphere and the greenhouse effect.
The sun.
The sun heats the atmosphere. Solar radiation largely passes through the atmosphere and warms the surface of the earth. The earth then radiates heat up into the lower levels of the atmosphere where greenhouse gases warm. The warmed greenhouse gases then continue to radiate heat in all directions warming the atmosphere and again the earth's surface.
1. Most of the short wave energy produced by the sun passes easily through the atmosphere and heats the surface of the earth. 2. The earth's surface then returns long- wave energy into the atmosphere. but this energy cannot easily pass out through the gases of the atmosphere. So some heat is retained in the atmosphere. 3. this is sometimes called the greenhouse effect because the glass of a greenhouse, like the atmosphere allows solar energy to pass through it and traps some of the energy inside.
Generically the atmosphere absorbs portions of the Sun's radiation. In particular the Ozone layer absorbs a lot of UV radiations and of course water in the atmosphere (clouds) can blot out the Sun entirely.
radiation can occur through a vacuum
Your mom is the answer to my std.
Ultraviolet radiation from the sun passes through the atmosphere and reacts with plants, animals and the soil and water - unless it is absorbed by chemical reactions that it initiates in the upper atmosphere.
Heat from the sun reaches you from radiation.
The atmosphere easily transmits shortwave radiation from the Sun, BUT is a poor transmitter of LONG-WAVE radiation from Earth's surface. This selective transmission causes the Greenhouse effect in the atmosphere.
The higher in the sky the sun is the more solar radiation received at the surface. This is because as the sun gets higher in the sky, there is less atmosphere blocking the sun's rays. Imagine the sun going through the atmosphere at a 90 degree angle. The thickness of the atmosphere let say is x thick. As the sun hit the surface at a lower angle, the thickness of the atmosphere has to go through more atmosphere to get to the surface. So the thicker atmosphere blocks more of the sun's rays.
This type of heat transfer is called radiation.
The form of radiation shielded by atmosphere is Ultraviolet. The Ultraviolet is a part of radiation released by our star sun.
The sun.
The kinds of electromagnetic radiation differ in the length of their waves, so the electromagnetic waves are absorbed, scattered, or reflected by the atmosphere and Earth's surface
Energy is transferred through the atmosphere by radiation.
Sol.The Sun is the source of radiation for both the earth's atmosphere and the greenhouse effect.