Final answer:
The claim is false; greenhouse gases absorb long wave, not short wave, radiation. They play a crucial role in the greenhouse effect by trapping heat in the Earth's atmosphere.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement is False. Greenhouse gases do not absorb incoming short-wave radiation from the sun. The greenhouse gases are designed to absorb long-wave infrared radiation, also known as heat, which is reflected off the Earth's surface. These gases, such as carbon dioxide, help trap heat in the atmosphere, contributing to the greenhouse effect, which keeps Earth's surface warmer than it would be without these gases. Greenhouse gases are critical in maintaining a habitable climate on Earth by preventing too much heat from escaping into outer space.
While the sun does emit some infrared light, most of the incoming solar radiation is in the form of visible and ultraviolet light, which largely passes through greenhouse gases without being absorbed. It's when this solar radiation strikes Earth's surface and is re-radiated as infrared light at longer wavelengths, due to the lower temperature of the Earth compared to the sun, that greenhouse gases play their role in absorbing this energy. This trapping mechanism is responsible for maintaining the surface temperature of Earth around 40°C higher than it otherwise would be.