Earth Observatory Overview and Incoming Sunlight

OverviewClimate and Earth’s Energy BudgetThe Earth’s climate is a solar powered system. Globally, over the course of the year, the Earth system - land surfaces, oceans, and atmosphere - absorbs an average of about 240 watts of solar power per square meter (one watt is one joule of energy every second). The absorbed sunlight drives photosynthesis, fuels evaporation, melts snow and ice, and warms