Question

In general, which two factors determine the overall temperature of Earth’s atmosphere?

Answer 1

Answer:

The two factors are-

(1) amount of incoming solar radiations

(2) amount of outgoing radiation

Explanation:

The temperature of the earth's atmosphere is directly related to the amount of solar radiation present in the atmosphere. These radiations are the harmful ultraviolet radiation emitted from the sun.

According to the earth's heat budget, out of the total amount of solar radiation, 30% of it is directly reflected back into space, and the remaining 70% is absorbed.  

Again from this 70% of radiations, about 23% is absorbed in the atmosphere and the remaining 47% is absorbed by the earth's surface.

When the amount of radiation absorbed is more than the radiation reflected than in that case, the temperature of the earth's atmosphere increases. And when the amount of radiation reflected is more than the radiation absorbed, then, in that case, the temperature of the earth's surface decreases.

Thus, the amount of incoming and outgoing radiations must be maintained for the existence of a moderate type of earth's atmospheric temperature.