Solar Radiation/

The Greenhouse Effect

METEOROLOGY
What causes the Earth’s temperature to rise?

The SUN.
• Source of energy

• Mean surface
temperature is 6000 K

• Radiates energy within

the range of wavelengths
of 0.2 to 4 µm
Solar Radiation
 Solar radiation is the radiation, or energy we get from the
sun.
 It is also known as short-wave radiation.

Forms of Solar Radiation

Visible light X-ray

Radio Waves Ultraviolet rays
Heat (infrared) Microwaves
 Extraterrestrial Region

Diffused Radiation

Moist and dust

Reflected to space

Direct Radiation

Mean tempereature
of the Earth’s surface
is 288 K (15°C)

Terrestrial Region
Greenhouse Effect
• The greenhouse effect increases the temperature of the Earth
by trapping heat in our atmosphere. This keeps the
temperature of the Earth higher than it would be if direct
heating by the Sun was the only source of warming.

• Additional Heating
 Reflected to Space

Absorbed by
greenhouse
gases
Solar Radiation

Earth’s
Temperature
Greenhouse Gases
• A greenhouse gas is a gas in an atmosphere that absorbs and
emits radiant energy within the thermal infrared range.

Primary Greenhouse Gases:

Water Vapor Nitrous Oxide
Carbon Dioxide Ozone
Methane
The Sun
emits high-energy, short wavelength radiation.

The Earth
emits lower-energy, longer wavelength radiation.

Note:
The higher the energy, the shorter the wavelength.
The lower the energy, the longer the wavelength.