UPSC Prelims 2024 · Question 51 of 97
UPSC Prelims 2024 question on Atmosphere Heated by Terrestrial Radiation
- ExamUPSC CSE
- Year2024
- PaperGeneral Studies Paper I
- SubjectGeography
- TopicClimatology
- DifficultyMedium
- TypeAssertion
Consider the following statements:
Statement-I:
The atmosphere is heated more by incoming solar radiation than by terrestrial radiation.
Statement-II:
Carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere are good absorbers of long wave radiation.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
Show answer
Answer: D. Statement-I is incorrect, but Statement-II is correct
Verdict
Correct answer: Statement I is incorrect, but Statement II is correct → Option (d).
Statement by statement
Statement I – INCORRECT: The atmosphere is largely transparent to short wave solar radiation. The incoming solar radiation passes through the atmosphere before striking the earth's surface. The atmosphere is heated more by terrestrial (long wave) radiation than by incoming solar radiation. Hence Statement I is incorrect.
Statement II – CORRECT: The long wave radiation emitted by the earth is absorbed by the atmospheric gases particularly by carbon dioxide and the other greenhouse gases. The atmosphere is thus indirectly heated by the earth's radiation. Hence Statement II is correct.