What are the primary components of the Earth’s energy budget?

The primary components of the Earth’s energy budget are crucial for understanding how energy from the sun influences our planet's climate and environment. Incoming solar radiation refers to the energy that the Earth receives from the sun, which is essential for heating the planet and driving weather and climate systems. This solar energy is partially absorbed by the Earth's surface, but a significant portion is reflected back into space, primarily by clouds, atmospheric particles, and the Earth's surface itself. The outgoing thermal radiation represents the energy that the Earth emits back into space in the form of infrared radiation as it cools down.

Together, these components illustrate the balance of energy that the Earth maintains. The balance between incoming solar radiation, reflection, and outgoing thermal radiation is vital to understanding global temperatures and climate change, as any significant alteration in this budget can lead to changes in climate. This understanding underscores the importance of these three factors in the energy budget framework.