Final answer:
True, NET R refers to the balance of all radiation including shortwave and longwave. It's a critical factor determining Earth's climate, involving the exchange of energy from various types of electromagnetic waves.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement 'NET R refers to the balance of all radiation - both shortwave and long wave' is true. This concept is integral to understanding the radiation balance of the Earth. In physics, radiation includes a range of electromagnetic waves such as radio waves, microwaves, infrared radiation, visible light, ultraviolet radiation, X-rays, and gamma rays, which all have varying wavelengths and energy levels. Net radiation (NET R) is the balance of the incoming and outgoing energy from these different types of radiation. Earth's climate system is influenced by this balance, as it determines how much energy remains in the system to heat the planet.
For example, during the day the Earth absorbs shortwave radiation from the sun, including visible light, and emits long wave radiation, mostly in the form of infrared, to space. Radioactive forcing describes this power exchange measured in watts per square meter (W/m²). The net radioactive forcing ideally would be zero in equilibrium, but this balance can be disrupted by various factors, including human activities leading to climate change.
The rate of heat transfer through radiation is given by the equation: Q = εσAT⁴, where ε represents impassivity, σ is the Stefan-Boltzmann constant, A is the surface area, and T is the absolute temperature to the fourth power.
Answering related topics, ultraviolet (UV) radiation is the part of the electromagnetic spectrum that's harmful to living tissues, and the amount of energy in a wave is often measured by its wavelength, with shorter wavelengths carrying more energy.