Part of the Sun's energy that reaches the Earth's surface is absorbed by land and water as heat. The Earth's surface then releases heat back to the atmosphere.

Question

Which of the following is true about this solar energy that is absorbed and released by Earth's surface as heat?
A.
All of this heat escapes the Earth's atmosphere, which keeps the planet cool.
B.
Much of the heat is trapped low in the atmosphere and is a major factor in determining Earth's climate.
C.
Much of the heat is trapped at the top of Earth's atmosphere to protect Earth from ultraviolet radiation.
D.
All of this heat escapes the Earth's atmosphere, which keeps the planet hot.

Answer 1

The correct answer is:

B. Much of the heat is trapped low in the atmosphere and is a major factor in determining Earth's climate.

This reflects the greenhouse effect, where greenhouse gases in the atmosphere trap some of the heat that the Earth emits, contributing to the overall temperature and climate of the planet.