If Earth had no atmosphere, radiant heat loss would be so rapid that the Earth's surface would cool drastically at night.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Without an atmosphere to act as an insulator, the Earth's surface would lose heat rapidly during night time, resulting in a significant drop in temperature. The atmosphere helps to regulate the amount of heat lost from the Earth's surface by trapping some of the heat and radiating it back towards the surface. This is known as the greenhouse effect, and it helps to maintain a relatively stable temperature on Earth. Without it, the temperature swings between day and night would be much more extreme.

If Earth Had No Atmosphere, Radiant Heat Loss Would Be