Image from Solar Influences on Global Change, Board on Global Change, National Research Council, National Academy Press, Washington, DC, 1994.
| - Since most of the radiation reaches the earth's surface, a large fraction of its energy enters the lower atmosphere through the evaporation-precipitation cycle of water.
- About 2% of the solar irradiance appears at UV and x-ray wavelenths shorter than 0.32 micrometers. This radiation is all strongly absorbed in the upper atmosphere where it drives several important photochemical reactions, including ozone production.
- The remainder of the solar irradiance appears at IR and radio wavelengths longer than 1.0 micrometer. Much of this radiation, especially in the IR, is strongly absorbed by atmospheric water vapor and carbon dioxide and thus contributes to the energy budget of the lower atmosphere.
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