Albedo - Encyclopedia of Earth
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Bookmark History
Saved by 3 people (0 private), first by anonymouse user on 2007-11-23
- Amandadouglas on 2007-11-30 - Tags radiation , solar
- Ttelesnicki3 on 2007-11-23 - Tags albedo
- Mollykim on 2007-11-23 - Tags albedo
Public Sticky notes
Albedo is known as surface reflectivity of sun’s radiation.
Highlighted by mollykim
Albedo is known as surface reflectivity of sun’s radiation. The term has its
origins from a Latin word albus, meaning “white”. It is quantified as the
proportion, or percentage of solar
radiation of all wavelengths reflected by a body or surface to the amount
incident upon it. An ideal white body has an albedo of 100% and an ideal black
body, 0%. The typical amounts of solar radiation reflected from various objects
are shown in Table 1. Albedo values can range between 3% for water at small
zenith angles to over 95% for fresh snow. On average the Earth and its atmosphere typically reflect about 4% and
26%, respectively, of the sun’s incoming radiation back to space over the course
of one year. As a result, the earth-atmosphere system has a combined albedo of
about 30%, a number highly dependent on the local surface makeup, cover, and cloud distribution.
Highlighted by ttelesnicki3
It is quantified as the proportion, or percentage of solar radiation of all wavelengths reflected
by a body or surface to the amount incident upon it.
Highlighted by mollykim
On average the Earth and its atmosphere
typically reflect about 4% and 26%, respectively, of the sun’s incoming
radiation back to space over the course of one year. As a result, the
earth-atmosphere system has a combined albedo of about 30%,
Highlighted by mollykim
The proportion of absorbed, emitted, and reflected incoming solar radiation steers the Earth's climate
system causing fluctuations in temperature,
winds, ocean
currents, and precipitation
Highlighted by mollykim
Earth's albedo values are very important in shaping local and global climates
through the radiation budget,
determined as the difference between the amount of absorbed shortwave radiation
(input) and the outgoing longwave radiation (output).
Highlighted by mollykim
Public Comment