How much energy does the earth receive from the sun? How is the energy budget of the earth balanced?
The figure below based on Kiehl and Trenberth shows the earth’s energy budget. Figures are in watts per square meter of earth surface. Link to presentation containing the figures of Energy and Entropy Section 8 of the FAQ in PDF format The earth receives of 342 W/m2 of short wave solar radiation. The earth reflects 107 W/m2 of solar radiation to space and emits 235 W/m2 of long wave infrared radiation to space. The earth’s surface absorbs 168 W/m2 of solar radiation. The heat absorbed by the earth’s surface is carried upward by convection and by infrared radiation. The total heat carried by convection is 102 W/m2 of which 78 W/m2 is carried as latent heat of water vapor and 24 W/m2 is carried as sensible heat of air. The remaining 66 W/m2 is carried upward by infrared radiation.
