[Yasmin Ilyas (OP)]

Hello,

I would like to get an answer to this question:

Q: How and where does liquid and solid water, modify the input of solar energy to the atmosphere and earth from space?

[Janus]

Solid water (ice) is more reflective of visible light waves lengths to which the atmosphere is transparent.  Those waves are thus reflected back out into space through the atmosphere.   Liquid water tends to absorb more of the visible light waves, raising its energy content, this energy is radiated away at wavelengths longer than those of visible light ( in the infrared spectrum), components of the atmosphere are not transparent to these wavelengths and thus absorb them, increasing their energy levels (heat content) which they transfer to the rest of the atmosphere via molecular collisions, raising the over all air temp.

[evan_au]

Sun on water causes evaporation.
- Some of this water vapor will rain down into dam catchment areas.
- This can then be used to produce hydroelectricity (one form of solar power).

Similarly, some of this water vapor in the form of clouds will reflect sunlight back into space
- This will shade a solar cell farm
- This will reduce the output of silicon solar cells (another form of solar energy)