The document discusses energy balance and temperature regulation on Earth. It explains that solar radiation is either absorbed, scattered and reflected, or transmitted by Earth and the atmosphere. Key greenhouse gases like CO2 and water vapor absorb infrared radiation and affect Earth's temperature equilibrium. A variety of natural mechanisms including conduction, convection, latent heat transfer, and winds work to distribute heat globally and maintain a steady state balance between incoming solar energy and outgoing terrestrial radiation. Changes to greenhouse gases can impact this balance and alter Earth's climate over time.