Albedo is the fraction or percentage of incoming light or radiation that a surface reflects without absorbing it.
Key points:
- It ranges from 0 to 1 (or 0% to 100%), where:
- 0 means no reflection (all light absorbed),
- 1 means total reflection (no absorption).
- Surfaces like fresh snow have high albedo (~0.8–0.9), reflecting most sunlight.
- Dark surfaces like forests or oceans have low albedo, absorbing more energy.
Why it matters:
Albedo affects Earth’s climate and temperature balance by influencing how much solar energy is absorbed or reflected. Changes in albedo, such as melting ice caps or deforestation, can have significant effects on global warming and weather patterns.