Question

If Earth's average temperature is not changing much, it means that the short-wave radiation absorbed by Earth and its atmosphere must equal the _______ ________ radiation leaving the Earth and its atmosphere. The avg temp at which this balance occurs is called the....

a) Longwave; Radiative equilibrium temperature
b) Shortwave; Thermodynamic equilibrium temperature
c) Longwave; Effective radiative temperature
d) Shortwave; Planetary equilibrium temperature

Answer 1

The correct answer is a) Longwave; Radiative equilibrium temperature.

Step-by-step explanation:

The correct answer to the question is a) Longwave; Radiative equilibrium temperature.

The relatively constant temperature of the Earth is a result of the energy balance between the incoming solar radiation and the energy radiated from the Earth. Most of the infrared radiation emitted from the Earth is absorbed by CO₂ and H₂O in the atmosphere and then re-radiated back to the Earth or into outer space.

This balance between the absorbed short-wave radiation and the emitted long-wave radiation is known as radiative equilibrium, and the average temperature at which this balance occurs is called the radiative equilibrium temperature.