Final answer:
Earth's atmosphere is opaque to waves in the infrared part of the spectrum due to absorption by atmospheric gases such as water vapor.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Earth's atmosphere is opaque to waves that are concentrated in the infrared part of the spectrum. While the atmosphere does transmit visible light well, allowing us to see the world around us, it absorbs certain wavelengths, especially in the infrared region.
This is due to the various atmospheric gases such as water vapor, which capture these wavelengths. In addition, high-frequency waves like gamma and X-rays do not reach the surface and must be observed from space. Observing the absorption characteristics of the atmosphere is crucial in astronomy and for the search for extraterrestrial life, as these absorption lines can indicate the presence of specific molecules.