Radiation budgets refer to the balance of incoming and outgoing radiation in the Earth's atmosphere. This includes the absorption, reflection, and emission of solar radiation and thermal radiation by the Earth's surface and atmosphere. Understanding radiation budgets is crucial for studying climate change and global warming, as changes in these budgets can lead to alterations in the Earth's temperature and weather patterns. Researchers study radiation budgets using satellite observations, ground-based measurements, and computer models to better understand how energy is exchanged between the Earth, sun, and atmosphere.