Solar Energy and the Atmosphere

Half of the sunlight entering Earth’s atmosphere reaches Earth’s surface. What happens to the rest?

• It is absorbed by the earth

• It is absorbed or reflected by the atmosphere.

• The rest of the sunlight fades away

• All the sunlight enters atmosphere

Sunlight is made of different wavelengths of energy. Shorter wavelengths

• are less powerful than longer wavelengths.

• travel less distance than longer wavelengths.

• carry more energy than longer wavelengths.

• make up the bulk of all sunlight reaching the atmosphere.

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The waves of sunlight most important to weather are

• laser, mechanical, and magnetic.

• gamma, x-ray, microwave, and radio.

• the longest waves that can reach the atmosphere.

• ultraviolet light, visible light, and infrared light.

Visible light is the form of light you can see. What does it include?

• the longest wavelengths of light

• bright rapid flashes of energy

• every color of the rainbow

• gamma rays that bombard Earth’s surface

Earth is sometimes called a “Goldilocks Planet.” Why?

• It is the only planet in the solar system that can grow the ingredients for porridge.

• Its temperature is not too hot, not too cold, but just right to support life.

• Earth orbits around the sun, much like how Goldilocks visits the bear family.

• The sun is like Papa Bear, Earth is like Mama Bear, and the moon is like Baby Bear.

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________ are gases in the atmosphere that absorb the energy of infrared light.

• Greenhouse gases

• Helium and argon

• Nitrogen and neon

• Solar gases

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The greenhouse effect warms up the atmosphere, which in turn, warms up what?

• beams.

• rays.

• rods.

• spears.

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Which statement is true?

• Sunlight is less concentrated at different latitudes.

• Sunlight has no effect on weather.

• Sunlight warms all locations the same amount.

• Sunlight is weakest near the equator and strongest near the poles.

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The greenhouse effect warms up the atmosphere, which in turn, warms up what?

• clouds

• deep space

• Earth's surface

• the area between Earth and the moon

The amount of sunlight during the day depends on

• the time of day.

• whether cloud cover is thin or heavy.

• the angle at which the sun's rays strike Earth's curved surface.

• how much light is reflected from the moon and combined with sunlight.

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