Light can be reflected, refracted or absorbed. Reflection is when light bounces off of an object. Refraction is when light changes direction when it enters something new. Absorption is when something soaks up the light. When sunlight hits the Earth, some of it is reflected back into space by the Earth’s atmosphere and clouds and some is absorbed by the atmosphere and clouds. Some of the light makes it all the way to the surface of the Earth and is absorbed by the land or water.