The Effect Of Solar Radiation On The Earth

1315 Words6 Pages

Climate consists of physical and chemical processes under interaction with solar radiation on the Earth. Solar radiation is the main source of energy on the Earth, forming and maintaining both human and creature life, including plants and animal. The Earth is just one of the planets in the solar system. Therefore, only one part of solar energy comes to the Earth. In term of the total solar energy coming to the Earth, one third will be reflected back out to the universe due to clouds and glaciers, while two third of the energy will be reflected back out to the universe due to clouds and glaciers, while two third of the energy will be absorbed by the Earth, including the atmosphere, hydrosphere, cryosphere and biosphere.
Persistent human activities …show more content…

It is called this because of a similar effect produced by the glass panes of a green house. Shorter wavelength solar radiation from the sun passes through the Earth’s atmosphere, and is then absorbed by the surface of the Earth, causing it to warm. Part of the absorbed energy is then reradiated back into the atmosphere as long wave infrared radiation. A fraction of this long wave radiation escapes back into space; but most of the radiation cannot pass through the GHG in the atmosphere. The GHG selectively transmits the infrared waves, trapping some, while allowing others to pass through into space. The GHGs absorb these waves and re-emits them downwards, causing the lower atmosphere to …show more content…

Runoff is projected with high confidence to increase by 10 to 40% by the middle of the century at higher latitudes and in some wet tropical areas, including populous areas in East and South-East Asia, and decrease by 10 to 30% over some arid regions at mid-latitudes and arid and semi-arid tropics, due to decreases in rainfall and higher rates of evapotranspiration. Drought-affected areas are projected to increase in extent, with the potential for adverse impacts on multiple sectors, such as agriculture, water supply, energy production and health. o It is likely that up to 20% of the world • population will live in areas where river flood potential could increase by the 2080s. Increases in the frequency and severity of floods and droughts are projected to adversely affect sustainable development. Increased temperatures will further affect the physical, chemical and biological properties of freshwater lakes and rivers, with predominantly adverse impacts on many individual freshwater species, community composition and water quality. In coastal areas, sea level rise will exacerbate water resource constraints due to increased salinization of groundwater

Open Document