In the Earth-atmosphere radiative energy budget, incoming shortwave (solar) radiation and outgoing longwave (terrestrial) radiation are balanced overall, but the individual flux components differ greatly in magnitude. The atmosphere (via water vapor, CO2, and clouds) is a much more efficient absorber of longwave (terrestrial) radiation emitted by the surface than it is of incoming shortwave solar radiation, making atmospheric absorption of terrestrial radiation the single largest term in the overall energy budget.