Outgoing Radiation
As Earth absorbs the Sun’s energy, it warms up and becomes a radiation source itself, emitting energy into space as infrared radiation, or heat. The amount of outgoing radiation depends on Earth’s temperature.
In response to heating by the Sun, Earth’s temperature increases. As the temperature of Earth increases, it emits more infrared radiation into space, which cools the Earth system. The cooling effect balances the heating and a new temperature equilibrium is reached.
This image shows the amount of radiation leaving Earth’s atmosphere (in watts per square meter), averaged from 2000–2015. Bright yellow and orange = greater heat emission; purple and blue = intermediate emission; white = little or no emission.
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