Most of the sunlight that reaches Earth is reflected back into space. Here's a breakdown:

* About 30% is reflected back directly by clouds, the surface of the Earth (especially ice and snow), and other reflective surfaces.

* Around 20% is absorbed by the atmosphere, particularly by gases like ozone and water vapor.

* The remaining 50% is absorbed by the Earth's surface, which then re-radiates some of that energy back into the atmosphere as heat.

This process of absorption and re-radiation is a key part of the Earth's energy balance and helps regulate our planet's temperature.