Consider the following statements:

Statement-I: The atmosphere is heated more by incoming solar radiation than by terrestrial radiation

Statement-II: Carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere are good absorbers of long wave radiation.

Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

The correct option is: Statement-I is incorrect, but Statement-II is correct.

Analysis of Statement-I:
Statement-I is incorrect. The atmosphere is not heated directly or primarily by incoming solar radiation. Incoming solar radiation is predominantly shortwave radiation, and the atmosphere is largely transparent to it. This shortwave radiation passes through the atmosphere and is absorbed by the Earth's surface, heating it up. The warmed Earth's surface then emits energy back towards space in the form of longwave infrared radiation, known as terrestrial radiation. The atmosphere absorbs this outgoing terrestrial radiation far more efficiently than it absorbs the incoming solar radiation. Therefore, the atmosphere is heated mainly from below by terrestrial radiation.

Analysis of Statement-II:
Statement-II is correct. Carbon dioxide (CO₂), water vapor, methane, and other greenhouse gases are highly efficient at absorbing longwave (infrared) radiation. While these gases allow incoming shortwave solar radiation to pass through, they trap the outgoing longwave terrestrial radiation emitted by the Earth. This absorption and subsequent re-emission of energy warm the atmosphere, a process fundamental to the greenhouse effect.