What primarily suspends dust particles in the atmosphere?

The correct answer highlights the role of energy reflected from the atmosphere in suspending dust particles. Dust particles are often suspended in the atmosphere due to various forces and energy sources. In this case, atmospheric energy plays a crucial part.

When energy from solar radiation reaches the Earth, it heats the ground and the air. This heating can create convection currents where warm air rises and cool air sinks, helping to lift and suspend dust particles. Additionally, energy reflected from the atmosphere can influence wind patterns and turbulence, which also contribute to keeping these particles airborne.

In contrast, energy reflected from water bodies typically does not play a significant role in suspending dust since it mainly pertains to surface reflection rather than creating the necessary atmospheric movements. Similarly, energy absorbed by the ground is important for heating the surface but does not directly correlate with the mechanical processes that keep dust in suspension. Thus, energy from solar radiation acts as the initial source of heat that drives many atmospheric dynamics, but it is the energy reflected from the atmosphere that is directly responsible for keeping dust particles suspended in the air through influencing air movement and stability.