question_answer

  Explain why only a small part of the solar energy that strikes the upper regions of atmosphere reaches the surface of the Earth.

Answer:

                  When the solar energy falls on the top surface of the atmosphere then the following happens: (i) Some solar energy is reflected back into the space by the atmosphere, and (ii)The atmosphere also absorbs a lot of solar energy; for example, most of the ultraviolet rays are absorbed by the ozone layer. So, the solar energy which reaches us through the Earth's atmosphere are mainly in the form of heat rays (infra-red rays) and visible light, which is a small part of the solar energy.