Have you ever thought about how the Sun interacts with the Earth? Let’s dive into this fascinating topic and learn how the Sun’s energy affects different parts of our planet!
The Sun is a star at the center of our solar system, and it provides us with heat and light. This heat is a type of energy that warms everything on Earth. The energy starts in the Sun’s core and travels to its surface before zooming to Earth as sunlight. But how much of this energy actually reaches us?
Imagine a pie chart to help us understand this. All the energy that warms the Earth comes from the Sun. About 20% of it is absorbed by the Earth’s atmosphere and clouds. Nearly 30% is bounced back into space by clouds and particles in the atmosphere. The remaining 50% is absorbed by the Earth’s surface, which includes both land and water.
Now, let’s explore how land and water absorb the Sun’s energy differently. Picture a beach where land meets water. The sand represents the land, and the ocean represents the water. When the Sun’s energy hits the sand, it gets absorbed, making the sand warm or even hot. The longer the sand is exposed to the Sun, the more heat it absorbs.
The sand is darker than the water, and darker colors tend to absorb more heat. On the other hand, when the Sun’s energy hits the water, the water reflects more of it. Reflection is the opposite of absorption. Lighter-colored things, like water, reflect more heat than darker-colored things.
So, which absorbs more of the Sun’s energy? It’s the land! The land absorbs more energy because darker-colored objects soak up more heat. Meanwhile, lighter-colored objects, like water, reflect more of the Sun’s energy. That’s why after playing on the hot sand, you can cool off in the water.
Next time you’re at the beach, remember how the Sun’s energy affects the land and water differently. And don’t forget your sunscreen!
