Solar Radiation and Infrared Emission: Earth’s Energy Balance Explained #3043103 (License: Personal Use)

The image depicts Earth’s radiative energy budget, with yellow wavy lines representing incoming solar radiation (342 W/m² at top of atmosphere), of which 240 W/m² is absorbed by the surface and atmosphere. Red wavy lines illustrate outgoing infrared radiation (102 W/m² shown escaping to space), highlighting the greenhouse effect where some IR is trapped and re-radiated downward.

Used in educational science content, climate change explainers, and environmental physics courses to teach planetary energy balance and the greenhouse effect; matches user intent for understanding Earth’s heat retention mechanisms.