Longwave radiation (+ LW) arriving at the surface
A) comes primarily from infrared energy emitted by greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
B) comes directly from the Sun.
C) comes from diffuse solar radiation.
D) comes from UV radiation reflected from the bottoms of clouds.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Longwave radiation arriving at the surface comes primarily from infrared energy emitted by greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. This is because greenhouse gases, like carbon dioxide and water vapor, trap some of the outgoing radiation from Earth's surface and re-emit it back towards the surface. This is what creates the greenhouse effect and keeps the Earth's surface warmer than it would otherwise be.

Longwave Radiation (+ LW) Arriving at the Surface