How the Sun Warms the Earth
This video is a part of Animated Atmosphere, a suite of short videos produced by the UCAR Center for Science Education with FableVision Studios.
Our planet would be very cold if we didn't have the Sun. Find out how the Sun heats the Earth from the ground up.
Transcript
You’ve probably noticed that the closer you are to a source of heat, the warmer it feels.
But when it comes to planet Earth, it's warmer on the ground than it is
high in the atmosphere, even though it's closer to the sun.
That's because the sun heats the earth from the ground up.
Surprising, right?
Nearly all the warmth on Earth comes from the Sun.
Solar energy passes through the atmosphere and is absorbed by the land and ocean.
They radiate that energy back as heat, warming the air closest to Earth.
As the heat travels back into space,
some of it is trapped by greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
Having some of these gases helps keep Earth warm enough to sustain life.
Now, with more greenhouse gases, the atmosphere is trapping
extra heat and warming our climate.
Stay cool out there, friends.