What is the amount of energy reaching the upper atmosphere o

What is the amount of energy reaching the upper atmosphere of the earth at a point perpendicular to the sun’s rays called? Why is less than half of this energy absorbed by the surface of the earth? Where does the rest go?

This is an ecology question on climate.

Solution

Solar constant is the amount of energy reaches the earth\'s atmosphere at the point perpendicular to the sun rays. Following is the equation used to calculate it

So= E(sun)x(R(sun)/r^2)

E= surface irradiance of the sun

R= 6.96x10^5 km- radius of the sun

r= 1.5x10^8 km- average sun earth distance

Due to cosine effect half of this energy is absorbed by the earth and the rest will be reflected back ti the outer atmosphere. Earth absorbs the energy and warms up for its habitation. The amount of energy absorbed by the earth depends upon the latitude and the angle on the surface of the earth