The high, thin cirrus clouds in the EarthΓÇÖs atmosphere act in a way similar to clear air because they are highly transparent to shortwave radiation, yet they readily absorb the outgoing longwave radiation. Like clear air, cirrus clouds absorb the EarthΓÇÖs radiation and then emit longwave, infrared radiation both out to space and back to the EarthΓÇÖs surface.
______________
The overall effect of the high thin cirrus clouds is to enhance atmospheric greenhouse warming.
