Final answer:
Approximately 70.7% of the incoming radiation from the Sun reaches the Earth's surface, while 29.3% is reflected back into space. The amount of energy reaching the surface is influenced by factors such as reflectivity, or albedo, of different surfaces. The Earth's overall albedo is about 30%, meaning that 70% of the sunlight that reaches the planet is absorbed and warms the land, water, and atmosphere.
Step-by-step explanation:
Of the 100% of incoming radiation from the Sun that hits the top of the atmosphere, approximately 70.7% reaches the Earth's surface, while the remaining 29.3% is reflected back into space. The reflected light is mainly due to clouds, snow, and to a lesser extent, water and terrain. The absorbed energy by the Earth's surface contributes to infrared radiation that is eventually radiated back into space.
The amount of energy reaching the surface of the Earth is affected by factors such as reflectivity, or albedo, of different surfaces. Light-colored objects and surfaces, like snow and clouds, tend to reflect more sunlight, while darker surfaces, like the ocean and forests, tend to absorb more sunlight. The overall albedo of the Earth is about 30%, meaning 70% of the sunlight that reaches the planet is absorbed and warms the land, water, and atmosphere.
In terms of specific values, considering an input of 1,360 W/m² at the top of the Earth's atmosphere, approximately 70.7% (about 960 W/m²) is absorbed by the Earth's surface, and 29.3% is reflected back into space.