* Visible light is the "window" of the atmosphere: The atmosphere is mostly transparent to visible light. This is why we can see the sun and the sky.
* Absorption by gases: While some gases in the atmosphere do absorb some wavelengths of visible light (e.g., ozone absorbs some ultraviolet), the majority of visible light passes through unimpeded.
* Scattering: The primary interaction between visible light and the atmosphere is scattering, not absorption. This scattering is what gives the sky its blue color.
To give you a more concrete number:
* Around 10-20% of visible light is scattered by the atmosphere. This means that about 80-90% of visible light reaches the Earth's surface.
So, while some visible light is absorbed, it's a relatively small amount compared to the amount that passes through the atmosphere.
