Incoming+solar+radiation

 Tanner Webb Mallory Hazel Three atmospheric processes modify the solar radiation passing through our atmosphere destined to the Earth's surface. These processes act on the radiation when it interacts with gases and suspended particles found in the atmosphere. The process of scattering  occurs when small particles and gas molecules diffuse  fraction of the incoming solar radiation in random directions without any change to the wavelength of the electromagnetic energy. Scattering does trim down the amount of incoming radiation reaching the Earth's surface. A majority of the scattered shortwave solar radiation is redirected back to the atmosphere. The amount of scattering that takes place depends on two factors: wavelengths of the incoming radiation, and the size of the particle or gas molecule. In the Earth's atmosphere, the presence of a large number of particles with a size of about 0.5 microns results in shorter wavelengths being preferentially scattered. This factor also causes our sky to look blue because this color corresponds to those wavelengths that are best diffused. If scattering did not occur in our atmosphere the daylight sky would be black.





Solar radiation is becoming more appreciated, due to it's influence on living matter and the importance it has to our environment.

Sources: [] http://almashriq.hiof.no/lebanon/600/610/614/solar-water/idrc/01-09.html