Air and Atmosphere — CHEMISTRY STD 7 — Question

The solar heat radiations consist of very short wavelength infrared radiations. These radiations can easily pass through the atmosphere. These radiations are absorbed by the Earth’s surface and temperature of the Earth rises during the daytime. At night, the Earth radiates out heat radiations of very long wavelength which cannot easily penetrate through the atmosphere because carbon-dioxide and clouds act as excellent reflectors. Thus, heat radiations are trapped in the atmosphere which keep the Earth warm during night. This trapping of outgoing solar heat energy in Earth’s atmosphere is greenhouse effect.