Sunlight directly affects temperature by providing the Earth with energy that is absorbed and re-radiated as heat, increasing the temperature.
Here's a more detailed explanation:
- Solar Radiation is Key: The vast majority of Earth's energy comes from the sun in the form of shortwave solar radiation.
- Absorption and Re-Radiation: When this shortwave radiation reaches the Earth's surface and atmosphere, some of it is absorbed. The absorbed energy is then re-radiated as longwave, infrared radiation, which we experience as heat.
- More Absorption, Higher Temperature: The more solar radiation that is absorbed by the Earth's surface and atmosphere, the more infrared radiation (heat) is re-radiated back, leading to a rise in temperature. This explains why sunny days generally feel warmer than cloudy days.
In simpler terms: Sunlight heats the Earth. The more sunlight absorbed, the hotter it gets.
