Keywords
energy from Earth to space
global energy balance
photosynthesis
storms
Sun energy to Earth
How to Cite
Abstract
This study analyzes the role of water vapor in keeping the Earth cool and the role of the Sun in providing food and oxygen. The Sun sends enormous amounts of energy daily to the Earth—about one-half of the world's annual energy consumption. This energy heats the surface, evaporates water, and creates a rising thermal column of warm, moist air. When the air reaches an altitude where the dew point causes the evaporated water to condense, the heat released eventually escapes to space as infrared radiation. Enough heat is released to space to maintain the Earth’s temperature suitable for current life forms. The level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is adequate for the photosynthesis process to provide food and oxygen for the life forms. The water cycle shows how the system works. Storms such as thunderstorms and hurricanes are powerful and essential to the water cycle. They provide most heat removal. No component of the Earth’s atmosphere other than water vapor has a significant cooling effect. A tiny but essential part of the Sun’s energy powers photosynthesis, providing oxygen and food at the bottom of the food chain on land and in the sea.
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