During the day, the Sun shines through the atmosphere. ... But some of the heat is trapped by the greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. That's what keeps our Earth a warm and cozy 59 degrees Fahrenheit, on average. Greenhouse effect of Earth's atmosphere keeps some of the Sun's energy from escaping back into space at night.

How does the atmosphere keep the Earth warm?

The atmosphere plays a crucial role in regulating the Earth's temperature by trapping and redistributing heat. It acts like a protective blanket around the planet, allowing life to thrive. Let's explore in detail how the atmosphere keeps the Earth warm:

1. Greenhouse Effect:
The greenhouse effect is the primary mechanism through which the atmosphere retains heat. Certain gases, such as carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and water vapor (H2O), known as greenhouse gases, have the ability to absorb and emit infrared radiation. These gases allow sunlight to penetrate the atmosphere but trap the heat radiated by the Earth's surface, preventing it from escaping into space.

2. Absorption and Emission of Heat:
When sunlight reaches the Earth's surface, it warms the land, oceans, and atmosphere. The warmed Earth then radiates heat back into space in the form of infrared radiation. However, greenhouse gases in the atmosphere absorb a portion of this outgoing radiation, preventing it from escaping completely. They re-emit some of the absorbed heat in all directions, including back towards the Earth's surface.

3. Heat Redistribution:
The atmosphere also aids in redistributing heat across the planet. Warm air near the equator rises due to convection currents, carrying heat upward. As it reaches higher altitudes, the air cools and moves towards the poles. This process is known as atmospheric circulation. Winds, both at the surface and high in the atmosphere, transport heat from one region to another, helping to regulate temperatures globally.

4. Cloud Formation:
Clouds can both cool and warm the Earth. During the day, clouds reflect sunlight back into space, reducing the amount of solar radiation that reaches the surface and keeping temperatures cooler. However, at night, clouds act as a blanket, trapping heat close to the Earth's surface and preventing it from dissipating into space.

5. Ozone Layer:
The ozone layer, located in the stratosphere, absorbs a significant portion of the Sun's harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation. This absorption prevents excessive heating of the Earth's surface and protects living organisms from the damaging effects of UV radiation.

In summary, the atmosphere keeps the Earth warm through the greenhouse effect, absorption and emission of heat, heat redistribution, cloud formation, and the presence of the ozone layer. These mechanisms work together to maintain a stable and habitable climate on our planet.

It is like a blanket to the earth or else in the day all will be burnt and in night all will be frozen ...