When sunlight strikes Earth approximately 30% is reflected back into space?
The Earth absorbs most of the energy reaching its surface, a small fraction is reflected. In total approximately 70% of incoming radiation is absorbed by the atmosphere and the Earth's surface while around 30% is reflected back to space and does not heat the surface.
How much energy from the sun reaches Earth?
One one-billionth of the Sun's total energy output actually reaches the Earth. Of all the energy that does reach Earth, slightly less than 34 percent is reflected back to space by clouds.
What percentage of a lower trophic levels energy flows to the next higher trophic level quizlet?
In general, only 10 percent of the energy consumed at a particular trophic level is available to the next trophic level; the rest is lost through the processes described above. A pyramid of biomass represents the amount of energy contained in biomass at different trophic levels for a particular time.
What is the amount of light energy radiated by the sun per square centimeter on Earth?
Earth receives about 1/2,000,000,000 of the Sun's radiant energy production. The average amount of solar radiation reaching Earth's orbit (top of the atmosphere) and falling on a flat surface perpendicular to the Sun's rays at that distance is about 2 calories per square centimeter per minute.
How much heat is exchanged between the Sun and the Earth’s atmosphere?
On average, 340 watts per square meter of solar energy arrives at the top of the atmosphere. Earth returns an equal amount of energy back to space by reflecting some incoming light and by radiating heat (thermal infrared energy).
How does the heat from the Sun reach the Earth?
Radiation is the transfer of heat energy through space by electromagnetic radiation. Most of the electromagnetic radiation that comes to the earth from the sun is invisible. Only a small portion comes as visible light.
How much energy reaches the Earth’s surface?
About 23% of incoming energy is absorbed in the atmosphere by atmospheric gases, dust, and other particles. The remaining 48% is absorbed at the surface. (NASA illustration by Robert Simmon.
How much energy does the sun release?
The Sun emits 3.8 x 10^33 ergs/sec or 3.8 x 10^26 watts of power…or each second, an amount of energy equal to 3.8 x 10^26 joules. In one hour, or 3600 seconds, it produces 1.4 x 10^31 Joules of energy or 3.8 x 10^23 kilowatt-hours.
What percentage of a lower trophic levels Energy flows to the next higher trophic level?
about 10 percent On average, only about 10 percent of energy stored as biomass in a trophic level is passed from one level to the next. This is known as “the 10 percent rule” and it limits the number of trophic levels an ecosystem can support.
Where does the remaining 90 energy go?
The remaining 90% is used in metabolic activity, such as breathing, digestion and the transport of substances between cells. Because energy decreases with each trophic level, biomass – the mass of all living organisms in an ecosystem – also decreases with each stage in the food chain.
How much energy from the sun hits the Earth per second?
The Earth's climate is a solar powered system. Globally, over the course of the year, the Earth system—land surfaces, oceans, and atmosphere—absorbs an average of about 240 watts of solar power per square meter (one watt is one joule of energy every second).
How much energy does the sun radiate?
At any moment, the sun emits about 3.86 x 1026 watts of energy. So add 24 zeros to the end of that number, and you'll get an idea of how unimaginably large an amount of energy that is! Most of that energy goes off into space, but about 1.74 x 1017 watts strikes the earth.
How does sun heat the Earth?
The sun heats the earth through radiation. Since there is no medium (like the gas in our atmosphere) in space, radiation is the primary way that heat travels in space. When the heat reaches the earth it warms the molecules of the atmosphere, and they warm other molecules and so on.
How does the sun’s heat reach the Earth?
The Sun's energy gets to the Earth through radiation, which you can prove just by standing outside and letting the sun's rays warm your face on a sunny day. Every object around you is continually radiating, unless its temperature is at absolute zero, at which point its molecules completely stop moving.
How much heat comes from the sun?
The temperature of the sun varies from around 27 million degrees Fahrenheit (15 million degrees Celsius) at the core to only about 10,000 degrees F (5,500 degrees C) at the surface, according to NASA (opens in new tab).
How far does the sun’s heat reach?
The sun is about 93 million miles away from Earth, and it's at about 3 million miles from the surface that temperatures would scorch up to above 248 degrees Fahrenheit.
How much energy is produced by the sun?
The Sun emits 3.8 x 10^33 ergs/sec or 3.8 x 10^26 watts of power…or each second, an amount of energy equal to 3.8 x 10^26 joules. In one hour, or 3600 seconds, it produces 1.4 x 10^31 Joules of energy or 3.8 x 10^23 kilowatt-hours.
How much solar energy hits the Earth in percentage?
Thus, about 71 percent of the total incoming solar energy is absorbed by the Earth system. Of the 340 watts per square meter of solar energy that falls on the Earth, 29% is reflected back into space, primarily by clouds, but also by other bright surfaces and the atmosphere itself.
Where does the other 90% of energy go?
Trophic Levels and Energy What happens to the other 90 percent of energy? It is used for metabolic processes or given off to the environment as heat. This loss of energy explains why there are rarely more than four trophic levels in a food chain or web.
Why is energy transferred 10%?
The amount of energy at each trophic level decreases as it moves through an ecosystem. As little as 10 percent of the energy at any trophic level is transferred to the next level; the rest is lost largely through metabolic processes as heat.
What happens to the other 90% in the 10% rule?
The ten percent rule states that each trophic level can only give 10% of its energy to the next level. The other 90% is used to live, grow, reproduce and is lost to the environment as heat. All energy pyramids start with energy from the Sun which is transferred to the first trophic level of producers.
Why is there a 10% rule?
The 10% savings rule is a guideline that suggests setting aside 10% of your gross income for retirement and other important savings. It's more of a personal commitment than an actual rule. Establishing a personal budget that sets aside 10% of your gross income every paycheck is a way of prioritizing savings.
How much energy is released by sun per second?
4.26 million metric tons per second The sun releases energy at a mass–energy conversion rate of 4.26 million metric tons per second, which produces the equivalent of 384.6 septillion watts (3.846×1026 W).
How much solar energy hits the Earth per year?
The 70 percent of solar energy the Earth absorbs per year equals roughly 3.85 million exajoules. In other words, the amount of solar energy hitting the earth in one hour is more than enough to power the world for one year.
How much energy from the Sun hits the Earth per second?
The Earth's climate is a solar powered system. Globally, over the course of the year, the Earth system—land surfaces, oceans, and atmosphere—absorbs an average of about 240 watts of solar power per square meter (one watt is one joule of energy every second).
How much heat is the Sun?
The temperature of the sun varies from around 27 million degrees Fahrenheit (15 million degrees Celsius) at the core to only about 10,000 degrees F (5,500 degrees C) at the surface, according to NASA (opens in new tab).
What is heat from the Sun called?
All of the energy from the Sun that reaches the Earth arrives as solar radiation, part of a large collection of energy called the electromagnetic radiation spectrum. Solar radiation includes visible light, ultraviolet light, infrared, radio waves, X-rays, and gamma rays.
How much heat does the Sun produce?
The emount of heat produced by the Sun can be compared to the amount of energy produced. The sun produces 1.23 x 10 ^ 35 Joules of energy in one year. To compare, a nuclear weapon only gives off 4.18 x 10 ^ 15 Joules of energy, which is less energy than the Sun produces in ONE SECOND.
How hot is the Earth?
around 57 degrees Fahrenheit The average temperature on Earth lies somewhere around 57 degrees Fahrenheit (13.9 degrees Celsius).
How fast does the Sun heat the Earth?
They travel at speed of light and takes about 8 minutes and 20 seconds to reach earths surface.