- Radiation is the type of energy transfer that brings the suns energy to Earth in waves through empty space or the atmosphere.
- Conduction is the type of energy transfer that works best in solids as molecules pass energy on to the molecules next to them.
- Convection is the type of energy transfer that works best in gases or liquids and is caused when molecules speed up and spread out, becoming less dense and moving upward.
- 25% of the Sun’s energy that reaches Earth’s atmosphere is scattered or reflected back into space from the clouds.
- 20% of the Sun’s energy that reaches Earth’s atmosphere is absorbed by ozone and other gases.
- 50% of the Sun’s energy that reaches Earth’s atmosphere is absorbed by the Earth’s surface.
- 5% of the Sun’s energy that reaches Earth’s atmosphere is reflected by the Earth’s surface.
- Radiation balance in our atmosphere means that the amount of energy entering our atmosphere is equal to the amount of energy leaving.
- If more energy enters our atmosphere than leaves our atmosphere gets warmer.
- If more energy leaves our atmosphere than enters our atmosphere gets cooler.
- The Greenhouse Effect is caused by energy from the Sun getting trapped in Earth’s atmosphere.
- The Greenhouse Effect is a good thing because it keeps the Earth warm even at night.
- The Greenhouse Effect can be a bad thing if it traps too much heat and the radiation balance is off.
