Waves arriving at the interface (boundary) between two materials can be reflected, transmittedA wave is passed across or through a material (medium), eg light waves are transmitted through air, glass and water. or absorbedEnergy is 'taken-in' by the material and the internal energy of the material will increase, eg infrared radiation from the Sun is absorbed by the surface of the Earth..
The type of wave, its properties such as wavelength, and the difference between the two media will determine what happens to most of the wave energy.
Wavelength has a big effect on how much of a wave's energy is reflected, absorbed or transmitted at an interface.
