Final answer:
About 50% of the solar radiation entering Earth's atmosphere is absorbed by the Earth's surface, which amounts to an average of 240 W/m² when averaged over the entire surface of the planet.
Step-by-step explanation:
Approximately 50% of the solar radiation that enters Earth's atmosphere is absorbed by the surface of the Earth. The sun delivers energy at a rate of 1,360 watts per square meter at the top of the atmosphere, but about 30% of this light, precisely 29.3%, is reflected back to space mainly by clouds, snow, and other bright surfaces. The remaining 70.7% eventually reaches the Earth. Considering the reflection and distribution over the entire surface area of Earth, this equates to an average energy absorption rate of 240 W/m². Furthermore, half of the solar energy is in the infrared region, with most of the rest being in the visible spectrum.