An accounting of radiant energy loss or gain by the atmosphere for some specified time and place. The main components are the loss of longwave radiant energy to space, a net gain (usually) of longwave radiation from the surface, and a gain of energy due to the absorption of shortwave radiation, primarily by water vapor absorption. On a long-term average, the global atmospheric radiation budget is ≈ −100 W m−2. This loss of energy is made up by the transfer of sensible and latent heat from the surface.