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The Earth loses most of its energy through infrared radiation. The atmosphere, particularly water vapor and carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, absorb a great deal of energy radiated from the Earth's surface.

Planets have some heat.

The Earth and other planets retain some residual heat left form the time planets and the Sun were formed four or five billion years ago. In addition, there are some internal sources of heat such as radioactive decay. Earth and other planets also gain heat from the Sun.

Planets lose heat.

Overwhelmingly, the mechanism for heat loss is through radiation of heat. All objects radiate heat in the form of electromagnetic radiation. (One can look up "black body radiation" which is an interesting topic in its own.) For Earth, this is typically characterized as infra-red radiation. The radiation is emitted from the Earth, through the atmosphere and heads out into cold space.

(Space, all the apparent emptiness we see in the night sky, is at a temperature of about 4 degrees Celsius above absolute zero, compared to our temperature of almost 300 degrees above absolute zero. The cooling through radiation of the hot Earth is evident in our daily lives because the cooling we experience at night can be so dramatic. In particular, clouds prevent much infrared radiation from directly escaping. A cloudy night cools several degrees less than a clear night.)

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Do water absorb light?

Yes, water can absorb light, particularly in the near-infrared and infrared regions of the electromagnetic spectrum. This absorption of light energy can lead to warming of the water molecules and water bodies.


How do greenhouse gases absorb infrared radiation?

Greenhouse gases absorb infrared radiation by trapping and re-emitting heat energy in the Earth's atmosphere. This process allows them to retain heat and contribute to the warming of the planet.


The amount of energy the atmosphere absorbs depends in the part on its level of?

The amount of energy the atmosphere absorbs depends on its greenhouse gas concentration. Greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and water vapor trap heat in the atmosphere, causing it to absorb more energy from the sun. This leads to warming of the atmosphere and the Earth's surface.


Which two layers of the atmosphere heat up because they absorb high energy rays from the sun?

The stratosphere and the thermosphere are the two layers of the atmosphere that heat up because they absorb high-energy rays from the sun. The ozone layer in the stratosphere absorbs UV radiation, while the thermosphere absorbs extreme ultraviolet and X-ray radiation.


What absorbs infrared light?

Materials such as black paint, asphalt, and carbon nanotubes are known to absorb infrared light well due to their ability to capture and convert the incoming radiation into thermal energy. These materials are used in various applications like solar panels, heaters, and infrared sensors.

Related Questions

What kind of energy does the atmosphere absorb from the ground after the earth absorbs the infrared rays that the ground?

the answer is thermal


How does nitrogen absorb infrared radiation?

Nitrogen absorbs infrared radiation by vibrating and rotating its molecules when they come into contact with the radiation. This vibration and rotation process allows nitrogen to absorb and trap the infrared energy, which can lead to warming of the atmosphere.


How do visible light and infrared energy warm earth?

The Earth and atmosphere absorb the visible and infrared energy and this warms the earth.


Does Concrete absorbs visible light and re-radiates it as infrared energy?

No, concrete does not absorb visible light and re-radiate it as infrared energy. Concrete reflects and scatters visible light, and it absorbs some of the heat energy from sunlight. This absorbed heat can then be released over time as infrared radiation when the concrete cools down.


What absorbs energy from the sun in the atmosphere.?

Ozone, water vapor, carbon dioxide, clouds, dust, and other gases absorb energy in the atmosphere.


What absorbs energy the sun in the atmosphere?

Ozone, water vapor, carbon dioxide, clouds, dust, and other gases absorb energy in the atmosphere.


The Earth's surface absorbs more radiant energy from the sun than the atmosphere?

Yes, the Earth's surface absorbs about 50% of the Sun's incoming solar radiation, while the atmosphere absorbs about 20%. The absorbed energy is then re-emitted by the Earth's surface as infrared radiation.


Do water absorb light?

Yes, water can absorb light, particularly in the near-infrared and infrared regions of the electromagnetic spectrum. This absorption of light energy can lead to warming of the water molecules and water bodies.


Which vibrational modes are affected when a molecule absorbs infrared electromagnetic energy?

When a molecule absorbs infrared electromagnetic energy, it affects the vibrational modes of the molecule.


How do greenhouse gases absorb infrared radiation?

Greenhouse gases absorb infrared radiation by trapping and re-emitting heat energy in the Earth's atmosphere. This process allows them to retain heat and contribute to the warming of the planet.


Does vaporization absorb or release energy?

Vaporization absorb energy.


The amount of energy the atmosphere absorbs depends in the part on its level of?

The amount of energy the atmosphere absorbs depends on its greenhouse gas concentration. Greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and water vapor trap heat in the atmosphere, causing it to absorb more energy from the sun. This leads to warming of the atmosphere and the Earth's surface.