Planet Earth loses heat energy mainly by:?

Question

a) radiation b) convection c) conduction d) actually, all in about equal amounts e) none of these, earth keeps its energy store

Answer 1

d

Answer 2

It's f) my brother's gas-emitting powers!!

Answer 3

Ultimately the energy is lost by radiation (a).  The other choices all require some material medium, but the energy is lost to space which is not a material medium in the classical sense.  However, convection does play a hugh role in moving energy vertically in the atmosphere.  For example, convection moves a great deal of warm air high into the atmosphere where greenhouse gasses do not have much of an impact.  It is effects such as this which are missing in most green house models causing them to make gross errors.