How is the incoming shortwave solar radiation from the sun modified by the atmosphere and the Earth's surfac
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Answer:
some of the incoming solar radiation is either absorbed, scattered or reflected with the atmosphere. The remaining radiation that hits the surface level where the ground will absorbe the remaining short wave radiation. This radiation is then converted into long wave radiation (infra red) which is felt as heat. This is why the upper atmosphere is cold while the ground level is warm.
Of the solar radiation that reaches the top of Earth's atmosphere, only about 51% makes it to the surface. What happens to all the incoming energy? for example, if you take the amount of solar radiation that reaches the atmosphere as 100 units, clouds and the atmosphere reflect and scatter 26 units, the earth reflects 4 units. That means there are 30 units being reflected back into space. 23 units would be used to evaporate wather and 7 to heat the air adjacent to the surface, leaving 21 units to heat the planet's landmass and oceans. Additionally, Solar Radiation varies seasonally. The amount of solar energy intercepted at any point on Earth's surface varies with latitude. At higher latitudes, radiation hits the surface at a steeper angle, spreading sunlight over a larger area. Radiation that penetrates the atmosphere at a steep angle must travel through a deeper layer of air. It encounters more particles in the atmosphere,which refect more of it back to space.
Incoming radiation hits particles in the atmosphere. They heat up and absorb some of this radiation. When they cool down they release radiation at a different wavelength. Thus radiation is modified by the atmosphere. Same happens for the earth's surface.
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