TSR Wiki > Study Help > Subjects and Revision > Revision Notes > Geography > Distribution of Solar Energy
When short-wave solar energy enters the atmosphere, only 50% is absorbed by the Earth's surface.
The rest is either reflected or absorbed elsewhere.
18% of solar radiation is absorbed by the atmosphere through dust, clouds and water vapour.
The Albedo Effect accounts for a 26% energy loss:
• 21% is reflected by the Earth's surface (e.g. ice caps).
• 5% is dispersed by gas particles in the air.
The remaining 56% travels to the Earth's surface. But 6% is lost through the form of long-wave radiation which is emitted from the surface because it is not as hot as the sun's surface.
This means only 50% of the total incoming solar energy is absorbed by the Earth's surface.
