Albedo:Albedo: Energy Reflected by Earth
Albedo of Earth's land masses, measured by the Terra satellite. Shown are the average values from April 7, 2002 through April 22, 2002. White areas signify that data was not available. Image courtesy of Crystal Schoof, Boston University.
Published: November 8, 2010, 12:00 am
Updated: May 7, 2012, 6:07 pm
This article has been reviewed by the following Topic Editor:
Margaret Swisher
Albedo (Latin, white) is the percentage of solar energy reflected by Earth. The albedo of various materials ranges from about 85% for pure, fresh snow to 5% for asphalt parking lots or deep, still water. The global mean is about 29%.
Satellite measurements provide a worldwide perspective on albedo. Clearly, deserts and snow-covered regions have a high albedo, whereas forests and agricultural fields have a low albedo. The overall trend seems to be that global albedo is decreasing, most likely due to diminishing snow and ice cover. This change in albedo will increase the amount of solar energy absorbed by the planet.
This is an excerpt from the book Global Climate Change: Convergence of Disciplines by Dr. Arnold J. Bloom and taken from UCVerse of the University of California.
©2010 Sinauer Associates and UC Regents
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Citation
Arnold J Bloom (Lead Author);Margaret Swisher (Topic Editor) "Albedo: Energy Reflected by Earth ". In: Encyclopedia of Earth. Eds. Cutler J. Cleveland (Washington, D.C.: Environmental Information Coalition, National Council for Science and the Environment). [First published in the Encyclopedia of Earth November 8, 2010; Last revised Date May 7, 2012; Retrieved May 26, 2013 <http://www.eoearth.org/article/Albedo:_Energy_Reflected_by_Earth?topic=54300>
The Author
Arnold J. Bloom became a botanist through a circuitous route. Upon receiving an undergraduate degree in Physics from Yale University, he spent several years developing computer models of the spread of air pollution over cities in the USA and Germany. He received a Ph.D. in Biological Sciences from Stanford University, where he also completed a two-semester course in Environmental Legislation at the Law School. He conducted postdoctoral research on the temperature responses of plants at the ... (Full Bio)
Albedo (Latin, white) is the percentage of solar energy reflected by Earth. The albedo of various materials ranges from about 85% for pure, fresh snow to 5% for asphalt parking lots or deep, still water. The global mean is about 29%.
Satellite measurements provide a worldwide perspective on albedo. Clearly, deserts and snow-covered regions have a high albedo, whereas forests and agricultural fields have a low albedo. The overall trend seems to be that global albedo is decreasing, most likely due to diminishing snow and ice cover. This change in albedo will increase the amount of solar energy absorbed by the planet.
This is an excerpt from the book Global Climate Change: Convergence of Disciplines by Dr. Arnold J. Bloom and taken from UCVerse of the University of California.
©2010 Sinauer Associates and UC Regents
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