Which is most responsible for reflecting incoming solar heat back to space?

Which is most responsible for reflecting incoming solar heat back to space?

Most solar energy is absorbed at the surface, while most heat is radiated back to space by the atmosphere.

What causes some of the sun’s energy to be reflected back to space?

Energy released from the Sun is emitted as shortwave light and ultraviolet energy. When it reaches the Earth, some is reflected back to space by clouds, some is absorbed by the atmosphere, and some is absorbed at the Earth’s surface. Shortwave radiation reflected back to space by clouds.

Can incoming solar radiation be reflected?

As Wein’s law explains, the sun’s high temperature emits solar radiation of mostly shorter wavelengths. This incoming solar radiation may be scattered, reflected, or absorbed. The fraction (or percentage) of radiation reflected back is known as albedo.

Do clouds reflect energy back to space?

Because a cloud usually has a higher albedo than the surface beneath it, the cloud reflects more shortwave radiation back to space than the surface would in the absence of the cloud, thus leaving less solar energy available to heat the surface and atmosphere.

What percentage of incoming solar radiation is reflected and scattered back to space?

The percentage of the solar energy reaching the outer atmosphere that is reflected to space is 30%. The 30% of the energy includes the amount of energy sent skyward by scattering. Hence, 30% of the incoming solar radiation is reflected and scattered back to space.

What reflects energy from the sun in the atmosphere?

Once the sun’s energy reaches earth, it is intercepted first by the atmosphere. A small part of the sun’s energy is directly absorbed, particularly by certain gases such as ozone and water vapor. Some of the sun’s energy is reflected back to space by clouds and the earth’s surface.

What type of surfaces reflect incoming solar energy?

About 29 percent of the solar energy that arrives at the top of the atmosphere is reflected back to space by clouds, atmospheric particles, or bright ground surfaces like sea ice and snow.

What surfaces absorb or reflect energy?

Every surface on earth absorbs and reflects energy at varying degrees, based on its color and texture. Dark-colored objects absorb more visible radiation; light-colored objects reflect more visible radiation. Shiny or smooth objects reflect more, while dull or rough objects absorb more.

Why does reflected solar radiation vary over time?

The Earth’s rotation and orbit cause the most dramatic changes in solar radiation over time. The simplest of these is the difference between night and day, which is driven by a 24-hour change in solar energy as the Earth rotates on its axis. The different seasons are also an example of solar driven climate variation.

What percentage of incoming solar radiation is reflected and scattered back to space chegg?

Hence, 30% of the incoming solar radiation is reflected and scattered back to space.