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Atmosphere
The atmosphere is an open energy system that receives solar radiation (insolation) from the Sun.
Insolation
Insolation is the incoming solar radiation received at a surface, arriving mostly as shortwave radiation across the ultraviolet, visible and near-infrared bands.
Long-wave radiation
Longwave radiation is the thermal infrared energy the Earth re-emits after absorbing incoming shortwave solar radiation, which spans ultraviolet, visible light and the near infrared.
Natural greenhouse effect
The natural greenhouse effect is the warming of Earth's surface and lower atmosphere as greenhouse gases absorb and re-radiate outgoing long-wave radiation.
Troposphere
The troposphere is the lowest layer of the atmosphere, reaching about 8 km over the poles and 16 km over the equator, and holding around three quarters of the atmosphere's mass.