Explain why the atmosphere is heated chiefly by radiation emitted from Earth's surface rather than by direct solar radiation

What will be an ideal response?


For the atmosphere as a whole, none of the gases are effective absorbers of visible radiation. This explains why most visible radiation reaches Earth's surface and why we say that the atmosphere is transparent to incoming solar radiation. Thus, the atmosphere does not acquire the bulk of its energy directly from the Sun. Rather, it is heated chiefly by energy that is first absorbed by Earth's surface and then reradiated to the sky.

Environmental & Atmospheric Sciences

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A line of thunderstorms is called a squall line

a. True b. False Indicate whether the statement is true or false

Environmental & Atmospheric Sciences

Car sharing has been tried in Germany, but was not found to be effective or successful

Indicate whether the statement is true or false

Environmental & Atmospheric Sciences

The sail-like fin on the pelycosaur may have served as all but which of the following?

a. sexual display b. a means of locomotion c. a means of protection d. a means of defense e. a thermoregulatory device

Environmental & Atmospheric Sciences