G3-Earth’s Energy Budget Lower Level-03

Earth absorbs and releases heat, like adobe. The Sun produces solar energy that reaches Earth. Solar energy produces heat. During the day, Earth absorbs some heat through its atmosphere. At night, heat is released back out into space. This process is called an energy budget.

If more heat is gained than is lost, Earth will heat up. If more energy is lost than gained, Earth will cool down.

But Earth is big. Our Earth moves heat energy around. Near the equator, Earth gains more energy. Nearer the poles, it loses more energy. Heat is moved from the equator to the poles by wind and water. This is like how energy moves from the outside of an adobe wall to the inside of a house during the day. In the atmosphere, this transfer of energy causes weather.

The map above shows surface temperatures. In the American southwest, where Arizona and New Mexico are located, you can see the Earth absorbs a lot of heat.

Unless you want to move to Arizona or New Mexico, you will need an air conditioner and a heater for your home. Sadly, Earth does not have such a device. To help Earth’s energy budget, we all must save energy.