Home > Terms > English, UK (UE) > Infrared radiation (IR)

Infrared radiation (IR)

Energy that is emitted in the form of electromagnetic waves at a wavelength greater than about 750 up to approximately 30,000 nanometers. Although the earth absorbs almost all the IR, UV, and visible radiation the hits it, the surface of the earth emits only the longest wavelength radiation of these three, IR, in any significant amounts. It is this re-emission of IR towards space--and its subsequent absorbance, re-emission and scattering--that contributes to the process that heats the atmosphere. This re-emission and subsequent heating is a part of the greenhouse effect.

This is auto-generated content. You can help to improve it.
0
Improve it
More
Collect to Blossary

Other Languages:

More

Member comments

You have to log in to post to discussions.

Related terms

infrared radiation (IR)
Natural environment; Coral reefs

Earth-emitted radiation over thermal wavelengths: 3-15 micrometers. Used for satellite remote sensing because it can be used to monitor weather and oceanographic conditions 24 ...

infrared radiation (IR)
Chemistry; Weather; Atmospheric chemistry

Energy that is emitted in the form of electromagnetic waves at a wavelength greater than about 750 up to approximately 30,000 nanometers. Although the earth absorbs almost all ...

Infrared Radiation (IR)
Industrial machinery; Laser equipment

Invisible electromagnetic radiation with wavelengths which lie within the range of 0.70 to 1000 micrometers. This region is often broken up into IR-A, IR-B, and IR-C.

Charles
Chemistry; Atmospheric chemistry

French scientist who formulated Charles's law in 1787. He was the first person to fill a large balloon with hydrogen gas, making it light enough to fly.

carbon cycle
Chemistry; Atmospheric chemistry

The process by which carbon is constantly exchanged between living things and the environments. Plants and algae absorb carbon.

diffusion
Chemistry; Atmospheric chemistry

The tendency of two substances that are mixed together to move around until both substances are in all parts of the mixture.

fog
Weather; Atmospheric chemistry

Tiny drops of water floating in the air close to the surface of the Earth. Fog is actually a cloud that has formed near the ground.

freeze
Chemistry; Atmospheric chemistry

To change from a liquid to a solid by cooling to the freezing point. Water becomes ice when it freezes.

smoke
Chemistry; Atmospheric chemistry

A mixture of carbon dioxide, water vapour, gases, and often soot that is produced by the burning of a material that contains carbon.

Terms in the News

Featured Terms

Harry8L
  • 0

    Terms

  • 0

    Blossaries

  • 1

    Followers

Industry/Domain: Health care Category: Chronic diseases

Chagas

Nicknamed the new AIDS of the Americas, chagas is a tropical disease caused by parasites transmitted to humans by blood-sucking insects. The insect, ...

Contributor

Featured blossaries

Nokia Fun Facts

Category: Other   1 6 Terms

Indonesian Food

Category: Food   2 11 Terms

Browers Terms By Category

TERMS

SOCIAL

EXTRAS

SOLUTIONS