Shortwave Radiation is the form of ultraviolet (UV) rays and visible light that contains a lot of energy. Solar energy enters our atmosphere as shortwave radiation and the sun emits shortwave radiation because it is extremely hot and has a lot of energy to give off. Once in the Earth’s atmosphere, clouds and the surface absorb the solar energy. The ground heats up and re-emits energy as longwave radiation in the form of infrared rays. (Refer to the Longwave Radiation)