What happens to all the heat energy that we have been receiving from the sun?

Question

Do we lose heat back to the universe to keep our heat balance here on earth?

Does the heat get converted into some other form as predicted by Einstein’s equation (i.e. into mass for example)?

If we do not lose heat back to the universe, and if the heat is not converted into some other form, could that probably explain, partially, Global Warming?

If it keeps getting converted to some form like “mass”, could we say that the earth is “growing” i.e. it is becoming bigger and/or heavier (however small this growth rate might be)?

Answer 1

Earth is constantly emitting infrared radiation (thermal radiation), just like any other heated body. This happens at all times, not just "at night" as stipulated in one of the answers. That's how the balance of energy is kept.

Answer 2

Some of the heat energy is absorbed; by the land but mostly by the oceans, which have a high specific heat. Other heat is simply radiated out into space, particularly at night and especially when there are no clouds. It should also be noted that clouds increase the earth's reflectivity (its "albedo"), which stops heat getting to the surface in the first place.

Heat doesn't really get converted into other forms; arguably you could say that some is absorbed in photosynthesis, but this is such a small amount as to be negligible in the overall heat budget.

For these reasons, no, the sun's heat does not explain the global warming phenomenon.

The earth also gathers dust (from meteors etc), but the mass increase is so small in proportion to the total mass of the earth as to be negligible.

Answer 3

Nice observation. The Energy? Radiation Reaction Heat is called a Solar Wind or Ray. Earth does catch some of this and retains it as Thermal Energy. It heats the ground and the water. Some escapes back, these are called Thermals. We have no control over these actions and are daft to think that could ever be in control of Universal Events. The world is going to end one day, that is a scientific fact. But us ending it, or even thinking that we could save an entire planet when we cannot manage one stream in Idaho is just arrogance and ignorance to a level that has yet to be determined.

Answer 4

Much of the heat energy received from the Sun is re-radiated back into space(mostly at night) and some is reflected. A small proportion of the light is used by plants to convert CO2 and water into carbohydrates, through photosynthesis.Global warming is caused by the increase in the amount of greenhouse gases such as CH4(methane) CO2(carbon dioxide) and CFCs(Chlorofluorocarbons), as a result of human activity. The increase in mass as a result of energy received from the Sun is miniscule compared with the tonnes of micrometeoroids constantly raining down on us.

Answer 5

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Answer 6

If the earth didn't emit any radiation, it would be invisible from space.
But we allready know that the earth is quite visible from space throught the whole spectrum range.
So there is your radiated energy..
The only space objects that emit no energy (that we know of)are:
a) Black holes - since the gravitation keeps it in.
b) Black matter - since it has no energy to emit.