Why doesn’t the Earth indefinitely heat up as it absorbs shortwave radiation from the Sun?
As you have just learned, the temperature of Earth has been relatively constant over time. You have also learned that this is possible because as the planet absorbs solar radiation, it also emits longwave radiation into space. Despite this radiative equilibrium, some longwave radiation remains trapped beneath the atmosphere of the Earth and warms the surface of the Earth. Watch the Greenhouse Effect movie to find out what causes this phenomenon. How do carbon dioxide and water vapor prevent longwave radiation emitted by the surface of the Earth from escaping to space? If all the molecules of carbon dioxide and water vapor were removed from the atmosphere, what do you think would happen to Earth’s surface temperature? Why? If more molecules of carbon dioxide were added to the atmosphere, what do you think would happen to Earth’s surface temperature? Why? You’ve now learned how shortwave radiation emitted by the sun and longwave radiation emitted by carbon dioxide and water vapor contrib
