Consider the following statements: 1. The Earth receives the Sun’s e

Consider the following statements:

  • 1. The Earth receives the Sun’s energy at the infrared end of the spectrum.
  • 2. The Earth re-radiates the Sun’s heat as ultraviolet energy.

Which of the above statements is/are correct ?

1 only
2 only
Both 1 and 2
Neither 1 nor 2
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CAPF – 2009
Neither statement 1 nor statement 2 is correct.
The Earth receives energy from the Sun primarily in the form of visible light, with significant contributions from infrared and ultraviolet radiation. The peak emission of the Sun’s radiation is in the visible spectrum. The Earth, being much cooler than the Sun, re-radiates absorbed energy primarily as longwave infrared radiation.
Statement 1 is incorrect because the Earth receives energy across the solar spectrum, not just the infrared end. Statement 2 is incorrect because the Earth re-radiates energy as infrared (heat) radiation, not ultraviolet radiation. The greenhouse effect is caused by atmospheric gases absorbing this outgoing infrared radiation.
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