UPSC Prelims 2022 · GS Paper 1 · Q11

Geography

Hard · Role of Clouds in Earth's Radiation Budget

Consider the following statements regarding the role of clouds in the Earth's radiation budget:

1. High altitude clouds cool the Earth's surface simply by reflecting incoming solar radiation back to space.

2. Low altitude clouds warm the Earth's surface mainly by absorbing and re-emitting outgoing infrared radiation.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?