Q. 11.19 Explain why:
(d) the earth without its atmosphere would be inhospitably cold
The sun's rays contain infrared radiation. These are reflected back by the lower part of the atmosphere after being reflected by the surface of the earth and are trapped inside the atmosphere, thus maintaining the earth's temperature at a hospitable level. Without these rays being trapped, the temperature of the earth will go down severely, and thus, the earth without its atmosphere would be inhospitably cold.