Final answer:
To estimate the total solar heating absorbed by the Earth every second, we can use the solar constant, Earth's albedo, and the Stefan-Boltzmann law. By calculating the intercepted radiation, energy absorption, and temperature, we can assess the importance of the greenhouse effect.
Step-by-step explanation:
The total solar heating absorbed by the Earth every second can be estimated using the given information. To calculate this, we need to consider the solar constant, which is the intensity of solar radiation at the radius of Earth's orbit. Assuming the Sun's rays are parallel, the area that the solar constant must be multiplied by to get the total radiation intercepted by Earth is the projected area of Earth, which is πr² (where r is the Earth's radius).
Next, we need to take into account the reflection of solar energy by Earth. Assuming Earth reflects about 30% of the solar energy it intercepts (albedo = 0.3), we can calculate the rate at which Earth absorbs energy from the Sun using the formula E = (1 - A) x S x πR², where E is the rate of energy absorption, A is the albedo, S is the solar constant, and R is the Earth's radius.
To find the temperature at which Earth radiates energy at the same rate, we can use the Stefan-Boltzmann law, which relates the temperature of a blackbody to its rate of energy emission. By equating the energy absorption and emission rates, we can solve for the temperature. Finally, we can conclude whether the greenhouse effect is important by analyzing the difference between the calculated temperature and the actual temperature of Earth.