Q98 (CAPF/2015) Geography › World Physical Geography › Atmospheric heat balance Answer Verified

Statement I : All the energy received by the earth is from the Sun through electro-magnetic radiation Statement I : The earth also radiates back all the received energy through various ways to maintain the heat budget of the planet

Both the statements are individually true and Statement II is the correct explanation of Statement I

Both the statements are individually true but Statement II is NOT the correct explanation of Statement I

Statement I is true but Statement II is false

Statement I is false but Statement II is true

Result

Your answer: — · Correct: B

Explanation

Statement I is true as the Sun is the primary source of energy for Earth, reaching the planet as electromagnetic radiation in the form of shortwaves, including ultraviolet and visible light [5]. While Earth has minor internal heat sources, solar insolation drives the climate system [6]. Statement II is also true; to maintain a constant temperature and heat budget, the Earth radiates back the energy it receives [4]. This occurs through terrestrial radiation where the Earth, acting as a radiating body, emits longwave infrared radiation back to space [2]. However, Statement II is not the 'explanation' for why the energy is received via electromagnetic radiation (Statement I); rather, it describes the balancing mechanism of the energy cycle. The two statements describe different phases of the planetary energy budget—incoming solar radiation and outgoing terrestrial radiation—making option 2 the correct choice.

Sources

[2] Physical Geography by PMF IAS, Manjunath Thamminidi, PMF IAS (1st ed.) > Chapter 21: Horizontal Distribution of Temperature > Insolation > p. 282
[3] FUNDAMENTALS OF PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY, Geography Class XI (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 8: Solar Radiation, Heat Balance and Temperature > SOLAR RADIATION > p. 67
[5] Certificate Physical and Human Geography , GC Leong (Oxford University press 3rd ed.) > Chapter 14: Climate > lnsolation > p. 131
[6] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earth%27s_energy_budget
[1] FUNDAMENTALS OF PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY, Geography Class XI (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 8: Solar Radiation, Heat Balance and Temperature > Terrestrial Radiation > p. 69
[4] Physical Geography by PMF IAS, Manjunath Thamminidi, PMF IAS (1st ed.) > Chapter 21: Horizontal Distribution of Temperature > 21.5. Heat Budget > p. 293

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Statement I : All the energy received by the earth is from the Sun through electro-magnetic radiation Statement I : The earth also radiates back all the received energy through various ways to maintain the heat budget of the planet

Explanation

SIMILAR QUESTIONS

Consider the following statements : 1. The Earth receives the Suns energy at the infrared end of the spectrum. 2. The Earth re-radiates the Suns heat as ultraviolet energy. Which of the above statements is/are correct ?

Statement I : Skin cancer is generally caused by the ultraviolet radiation. Statement I : Stratosphere allows ultraviolet radiation to enter the earth from the sun.

Statement I: Insolation is greatest when the sun is directly overhead and the sun`s rays are vertical. Statement II: When the sun is lower in the sky, the same amount of solar energy spreads over a greater area of ground surface, so insolation is lower.