heat budget
Quick Summary
The Earth's heat budget is the balance between the solar radiation absorbed and the thermal radiation emitted into space. This balance is crucial for maintaining Earth's temperature. More solar radiation is absorbed at the equator than at the poles, while thermal emission is more uniform. This latitudinal difference creates an imbalance, which the atmosphere and oceans help to correct by transferring heat from the equator to the poles.1
The atmosphere plays a significant role by absorbing some solar radiation and reemitting thermal radiation. While the surface gains solar energy, it also loses heat through its own emission, resulting in a net positive radiation budget for the surface. Conversely, the atmosphere has a negative radiation budget because it emits more thermal energy than it absorbs from the sun. This process is influenced by greenhouse gases, which trap heat and contribute to warming. Human activities, such as burning fossil fuels and deforestation, are increasing greenhouse gas concentrations, potentially altering the Earth's radiation budget and leading to climate change.123
Ask Britannica AI about this topic
Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.
