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| The passage of either shortwave or longwave energy through the atmosphere or water. Most of our energy that reaches Earth is shortwave. |
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| Atmospheric gases, dust, cloud droplets, water vapor and pollutants physically interacting with insolation. Represents 7% of the Earth's reflectivity. |
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| When insolation passes from air to water, or from any empty space into gases. This subjects insolation to change in speed and direction. This is a rainbow. |
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| Energy that bounces directly back into space with being absorbed or performing any work. |
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| The reflective quality, or intrinsic brightness of a surface. |
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| The assimilation of radiation by molecules of matter and its conversion from one form of energy to another. Turning it into energy. |
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| The molecule-to-molecule transfer of heat energy as it diffuses through a substance. E.g.: heat moving through a pan. |
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| Gases and liquids also transfer energy by physically mixing in strong vertical motions. E.g.: boiling water. |
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| This is convection, except when a horizontal movement dominates. |
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| When longwave radiation is absorbed by carbon dioxide, water vapor, methane, nitrous oxide, CFCs and other gases in the lower atmosphere and then emitted back towards Earth, warming the troposphere. |
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| High clouds keep heat (longwave radiation) down on the surface while letting shortwave radiation through, increasing the heat of Earth. |
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| These reflect most of the insolation and force a net cooling of Earth. |
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