In the heating of the atmosphere, which amount of energy is SMALLEST?
A) solar radiation received at the surface
B) the albedo of the Earth system
C) solar radiation absorbed by ozone
D) solar radiation entering the atmosphere
E) solar radiation absorbed by the atmosphere

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Solar radiation absorbed by ozone is the smallest amount of energy compared to the other options. Ozone absorbs a portion of the UV radiation from the sun, which is a smaller fraction compared to the total solar radiation received at the surface, the albedo (which reflects a portion of solar radiation back to space), the total solar radiation entering the atmosphere, and the total solar radiation absorbed by the atmosphere (which includes absorption by water vapor, dust, and other gases besides ozone).

In the Heating of the Atmosphere, Which Amount of Energy