Question

energy at earth’s surface
identify what’s happening to energy in the lower atmosphere and at earth’s surface? find out by using the words in the word bank below to complete each sentence.
word bank
reflected absorbed radiated
words may be used more than once
about 25 percent of incoming sunlight
is ______ by clouds, dust, and
gases in the atmosphere.
about 50 percent
is ______ by earth’s surface.
this heats the land
and the water.
about 20 percent is ______ by gases and particles in the atmosphere
some absorbed energy
is ______ back
into the atmosphere.
about 5 percent is ______ by the surface back into the atmosphere

Explanation:

Each blank is filled based on the behavior of solar energy in Earth's atmosphere and at its surface, matching the defined terms:

1. Clouds, dust, and gases send sunlight back to space, so this is reflection.
2. Earth's surface takes in sunlight to heat land and water, which is absorption.
3. Atmospheric gases/particles take in sunlight energy, which is absorption.
4. Absorbed energy from the surface is emitted back to the atmosphere, which is radiation.
5. The surface sends a small portion of sunlight directly back, which is reflection.

Answer:

1. About 25 percent of incoming sunlight is reflected by clouds, dust, and gases in the atmosphere.
2. About 50 percent is absorbed by Earth's surface. This heats the land and the water.
3. About 20 percent is absorbed by gases and particles in the atmosphere.
4. Some absorbed energy is radiated back into the atmosphere.
5. About 5 percent is reflected by the surface back into the atmosphere.