How does the sun's energy contribute to warming the Earth's surface and atmosphere?

The sun's energy warms the Earth's surface and atmosphere through a process called solar radiation. Sunlight contains heat energy in the form of electromagnetic radiation. When sunlight reaches the Earth, some of it is absorbed by the surface, causing it to warm up. The Earth then radiates this heat back into the atmosphere as infrared radiation. Greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, such as carbon dioxide and water vapor, trap some of this infrared radiation, preventing it from escaping into space. This trapped heat warms the atmosphere and contributes to the overall temperature of the Earth.