UPSC Prelims 2022 Question:

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 statements given above is/are correct?

Explanation:

• Clouds high up in the atmosphere tend to warm Earth more than they cool. High, thin clouds trap some of the Sun’s heat. This warms Earth’s surface. So, statement 1 is not correct.
  
  
• Low clouds within a mile or so of Earth’s surface tend to cool more than they warm. These low, thicker clouds mostly reflect the Sun’s heat. This cools Earth’s surface. So, statement 2 is not correct.
  
  

Therefore, option (4) is the correct answer. 

Subject: Geography|Climate Weather and Atmosphere