What type of radiation is emitted from the Sun?

The Sun primarily emits shortwave radiation, which includes visible light, ultraviolet (UV) light, and a small portion of infrared radiation. Shortwave radiation encompasses the spectrum of electromagnetic waves that are shorter in wavelength compared to longwave radiation, which is typically emitted by the Earth. When solar energy reaches the Earth, its shortwave radiation is key to driving weather patterns and influencing climate.

Shortwave radiation is crucial for the warming of the Earth's surface and atmosphere, as it can easily penetrate the atmosphere and warm the Earth's surface. This is in contrast to longwave radiation, which is primarily re-radiated by the Earth itself and is not emitted by the Sun. While infrared and ultraviolet radiation are components of the solar spectrum, classifying the overall emissions of the Sun as shortwave encompasses all of these forms of radiation effectively.