UPSC PRELIMS · GEOGRAPHY · CLOUDS AND CLIMATE

Consider the following statements: 1. High clouds primarily reflect solar radiation and cool the surface of the Earth. 2. Low clouds have a high absorption of infrared radiation emanating from the Earth’s surface and thus cause warming effect. Which of the statement given above is/are correct?

Take a breath. Choose one. Press A–D on your keyboard if you like.

EXPLANATION

High clouds often have a net warming effect because they trap outgoing infrared radiation, while low clouds generally reflect more incoming solar radiation and tend to cool.

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