How the Climate System Works: Solar Radiation?

The Sun is like a giant light bulb that sends energy to Earth, and it helps make our planet warm enough for life.

Solar radiation is the energy from the Sun that travels through space and lands on Earth, kind of like how sunlight comes through your window and warms up your room. This energy can be absorbed, which means it's taken in by things like the ground, oceans, and even you when you're outside on a sunny day.

When the Sun shines on Earth, some of that energy is absorbed, and some of it bounces back into space, just like when you shine a flashlight on a white wall, part of the light reflects off it. The Earth keeps this energy warm, and then it sends some of it back out to space, but not all of it. It’s kind of like wearing a blanket when you're cold, the Earth's atmosphere acts like that blanket, trapping some heat so we stay cozy.

If there were no solar radiation, Earth would be super chilly, like being in a freezer! But because the Sun sends us energy every day, we have a warm and friendly planet to live on.