what term refers to energy being absorbed by the earth then returned to the atmosphere?
Earth's Energy Balance extended definition. Earth's Energy balance describes how the incoming energy from the sun is used and returned to space. If incoming and outgoing energy are in balance, the earth's temperature remains constant.
100% of the energy entering earthâs atmosphere comes from the sun. ~50% of the incoming energy is absorbed by the earthâs surface i.e. the land and oceans. ~30% is directly reflected back to space by clouds, the earthâs surface and different gases and particles in the atmosphere (the earth's albedo is 0.3 on average). ~20% is absorbed by the atmosphere and clouds. The 70% of the sunâs energy that is absorbed by the earthâs surface, clouds, and atmosphere causes warming. Any object or gas that has a temperature emits radiation outward, and this is ultimately re-radiated back into space.