How does the atmosphere help maintain suitable temperatures for life on Earth?
It partly absorbs the incoming solar radiations
The atmosphere absorbs part of the incoming solar radiation (ozone absorbs ultraviolet; water vapour and carbon dioxide absorb some infrared) and lets the rest reach the surface.
It also holds back part of the heat radiated by the Earth (the natural greenhouse effect), keeping the average surface temperature around 15 °C instead of far below freezing, and reducing day–night extremes.
If all heat escaped quickly into space, the Earth would become extremely cold, as on the Moon at night.
If all heat were blocked from reaching the surface, there would be no warming and no photosynthesis.
The atmosphere reflects only a part of sunlight (clouds, dust); reflecting all of it would freeze the planet.
Hence, the answer is It partly absorbs the incoming solar radiations.
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