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Q13 (NDA-II/2021) Science & Technology › Basic Science (Physics, Chemistry, Biology) › Thermal physics

The Earth’s atmosphere is mainly heated by which one of the following ?

Result
Your answer: —  ·  Correct: C
Explanation

The Earth's atmosphere is primarily heated by long wave terrestrial radiation rather than direct solar radiation. While the Sun emits short-wave radiation, the atmosphere is largely transparent to these wavelengths, allowing them to pass through and heat the Earth's surface [2][4]. Once heated, the Earth becomes a radiating body itself, emitting energy back into the atmosphere in the form of long-wave infrared radiation [1][3]. This process is known as terrestrial radiation. Atmospheric constituents, particularly greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and water vapor, are opaque to these long wavelengths [3][5]. They absorb this outgoing terrestrial energy and re-radiate it, effectively trapping heat within the lower atmosphere [2]. Consequently, the atmosphere is heated indirectly from the ground up, maintaining the planet's thermal balance [1].

Sources

  1. [2] Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 6: Environmental Degradation and Management > Greenhouse Effect and Global Warming > p. 7
  2. [4] FUNDAMENTALS OF PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY, Geography Class XI (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 8: Solar Radiation, Heat Balance and Temperature > The Passage of Solar Radiation through the Atmosphere > p. 68
  3. [1] FUNDAMENTALS OF PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY, Geography Class XI (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 8: Solar Radiation, Heat Balance and Temperature > Terrestrial Radiation > p. 69
  4. [3] FUNDAMENTALS OF PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY, Geography Class XI (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 11: World Climate and Climate Change > Global Warming > p. 96
  5. [5] Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 7: Climate Change > 2. greenhouse gases > p. 9
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SIMILAR QUESTIONS

IAS · 2024 · Q1 Relevance score: 3.83

Consider the following statements : Statement-I : The atmosphere is heated more by incoming solar radiation than by terrestrial radiation. Statement-II : Carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere are good absorbers of long wave radiation. Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements ?

IAS · 2023 · Q62 Relevance score: 1.58

With reference to the Earth's atmosphere, which one of the following statements is correct?

IAS · 2022 · Q11 Relevance score: 1.23

Consider the following statements : 1. High clouds primarily reflect solar radiation and cool the surface of the Earth. 2. Low clouds have a high absorption of infrared radiation emanating from the Earth's surface and thus cause warming effect. Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

CDS-I · 2018 · Q24 Relevance score: -0.55

Which of the following causes adiabatic temperature changes in atmosphere?

IAS · 2025 · Q29 Relevance score: -1.16

Consider the following statements : I. Without the atmosphere, temperature would be well below freezing point everywhere on the Earth's surface. II. Heat absorbed and trapped by the atmosphere maintains our planet's average temperature. III. Atmosphere's gases, like carbon dioxide, are particularly good at absorbing and trapping radiation. Which of the statements given above are correct?