Solar energy radiates towards Earth. The atmosphere and the Earth’s surface absorb some of the energy and reflect some of it too. Incoming solar radiation is absorbed in the atmosphere by clouds, water vapor, dust, and ozone. The earth’s surface also absorbs radiation. Clouds and surfaces on the Earth also reflect radiation. Heat that is absorbed on the Earth is reradiated into the atmosphere. Some of this reradiated heat is absorbed by clouds, water vapor, ozone, and carbon dioxide. 

 

Energy coming into the Earth’s atmosphere from the sun is always in balance with the energy leaving Earth’s atmosphere going back out into space. However, carbon dioxide traps infrared radiation. As humans emit more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, this natural balance becomes altered, resulting in less heat escaping into space. As a result, our planet is becoming warmer.