Final answer:
Thermal IR radiation transmits thermal energy through electromagnetic waves emitted by all objects based on their temperature, used in applications like thermal imaging and quartz heaters, and plays a role in the Earth's greenhouse effect.
Step-by-step explanation:
Thermal Infrared (IR) radiation is a type of electromagnetic radiation that transmits thermal energy. From the warmth felt near a fire, to the use of IR cameras for thermal imaging of homes and the detection of individuals by satellites, IR radiation plays a critical role in heat transfer. This radiant energy is emitted by all objects based on their temperatures, quantitatively described by the Stefan-Boltzmann law, which states that the power radiated is proportional to the fourth power of the object's absolute temperature.
This form of heat transfer is particularly efficient because it does not require a medium, thus allowing the transmission of energy through the vacuum of space. Household applications like quartz heaters leverage this by emitting IR radiation to preferentially warm human skin more effectively than the surrounding environment. Additionally, IR radiation contributes to the greenhouse effect, as it is absorbed and re-emitted by greenhouse gases, warming the Earth's surface and the lower atmosphere.