How does the temperature of the earth's surface affect the temperature of the air above it?

Since air is transparent to the sun's "short-wave" energy, sunlight passes through it without heating it in the slightest. This "short-wave" radiation is absorbed by the Earth, which heats up as a result. The heated Earth then emits its own radiation, which is known as "long-wave" radiation because it is in the infrared part of the spectrum and warms the atmosphere.

The temperature of the Earth's surface affects the temperature of the air above it through the process of conduction. Heat from the surface warms the air molecules directly above it, causing them to become less dense and rise. This movement of warm air creates vertical air currents, which distribute heat throughout the atmosphere. Additionally, the temperature of the Earth's surface also influences the amount of moisture in the air, which can further impact temperature through processes like evaporation and condensation.