Question

assess your understanding

1. summarize what happens to most of the sunlight that reaches earth?

b. interpret diagrams in figure 3, what percent - age of incoming sunlight is reflected by clouds, dust, and gases in the atmosphere?
c. predict how might conditions on earth be different without the greenhouse effect?

Explanation:

a. Most incoming sunlight is either absorbed by Earth's surface and atmosphere, or reflected back to space. The absorbed energy warms the planet, while reflected energy does not contribute to heating.
b. Based on standard Earth energy budget models, approximately 25% of incoming sunlight is reflected by clouds, dust, and atmospheric gases.
c. Without the greenhouse effect, the heat absorbed by Earth's surface would radiate back to space unimpeded, leading to average global temperatures far below freezing (around -18°C), making most of the planet uninhabitable for complex life, with frozen oceans and no liquid water on the surface.

Answer:

a. Most sunlight is absorbed by Earth's surface/atmosphere, warming the planet, while some is reflected back to space.
b. 25%
c. Earth would be far colder (avg. ~-18°C), with frozen oceans and no liquid water, making it uninhabitable for most complex life.