A question about heat transfer in our atmosphere

[Keith]

So I've been wondering this for a couple days now: Is radiation the only means for decreasing the internal energy of our atmosphere?

I know that in kinetic theory the molecules are similar to bouncy balls and if they were in contact with the vacuum of space, the air molecules would have no reason to lose any of their kinetic energy, right?

 

[Khashishi]

There is a small amount of gas from the atmosphere evaporating into space, cooling off the atmosphere. But this is negligible compared to the radiative energy.

 

[Keith]

Awesome thanks Khashishi