The atmosphere is primarily heated by radiation from the Earth rather than direct solar rays. While shortwave solar radiation passes through the air, the Earth absorbs this energy and re-emits it as longwave terrestrial radiation. This heat is then trapped by atmospheric gases. Consequently, the air closest to the ground is generally warmer than the air at higher altitudes now. ANSWER: (D) Radiation from the Earth
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The Earth’s atmosphere is primarily heated through terrestrial radiation rather than direct absorption of sunlight. While the sun emits energy in short wave radiation, the atmosphere is largely transparent to these rays. Once this energy reaches the Earth’s surface, it is absorbed and then re-radiated back into the atmosphere as long wave infrared radiation. This thermal energy is more easily captured by greenhouse gases like water vapor and carbon dioxide. Through processes like conduction and convection, this heat is distributed within the lower layers. This explains why atmospheric temperatures typically decrease with altitude, as the primary heat source is the surface.
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