Atmospheres do not get its temperature directly by the short waves of the sun but through the long waves of the earth. The atmosphere is transparent to the solar radiation which is in the form of short waves. It allows them to reach the earth.
The four processes of heating and cooling of atmosphere are radiation, conduction, convection and advection.
Radiation: Radiation is the process of heating an object by the transmission of heat waves. The earth surface gets temperature through solar radiation. It radiates energy in the form of long waves which is absorbed by the atmosphere.
Conduction: Transfer of heat by molecular activity is known as Conduction. The atmospheric layer closer to the surface gets heat in this process with contact.
Convection: Transfer of heat through the movement of mass is called Convection. The lower layer of the atmosphere gets temperature and become lighter. So it moves upwards. The dense air in the upper layer being dense descends downwards. With this cyclic movement temperature is distributed in the lower layers of the atmosphere.
Advection: Temperature is also transferred by large scale movement of air. When warm air moves of cold regions temperature of the air increases and is contrast cold reduces heat. This phenomena is called advection.
