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Yes, everything has albedo. Albedo refers to the reflectivity of any object or substance.
White clouds have a high albedo - they reflect a lot of light. Dark clouds have a lower albedo; they don't reflect as much.
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What are the factors the determine a planets albedo?
Clouds can increase a planet's albedo asthey reflect the radiation
Mars has an albedo magnitude of?
The albedo of Mars is .15; you can see the albedo of all of the planets and moons in the solar system at the Nine Planets web site, linked below. "Albedo" is a measure of how reflective a body is. The higher the number, the more reflective the surface. So a high albedo says that a planet or asteroid reflects most of the light that hits it, while a low albedo indicates that most of the light is absorbed. Albedo can make calculations about climate change difficult. A planet with a high albedo reflects much of the Sun's light and heat, causing it not to heat up as much. A low albedo means that all of the solar radiation is absorbed and turned into heat. A warmer world will have less snow and ice cover, and thus a lower albedo, resulting in higher temperatures. On the other hand, a warmer world might have more clouds, which would increase Earth's albedo, reflect more sunlight, and reduce the heating effect. However, clouds also act to trap heat, sort of like a blanket. Whether the albedo effect would offset the "blanket" effect of clouds would depend on the type and height of the clouds and where they are located. Cloud effects are among the most important sources of uncertainty in modeling future climate change.
What is responsible for reflecting light back into the atmosphere?
The characteristic of being able to reflect light is called albedo. Substances with high albedo are able to reflect more light. The major substances with high albedo that reflect light back into space from Earth are: clouds, snow, ice caps, aerosols etc. In fact, many environmentalists are pushing the "White Roof Movement" that encourages the painting of roofs white in order to increase the albedo in urban areas, hopefully decreasing the urban heat island effect.
What is the primary reason why the albedo of the Earth is roughly 30 percent?
albedo
What is the percentage of solar radiation reflected from a surface?
This is called the "albedo." It is the ratio of reflected light compared to incident light, and depends on the surface material and its condition (e.g. snow, grassland).
Many clouds have a high albedo therefore tend to?
reflect sunlight
Many clouds have a high albedo and therefore tend to?
reflect sunlight
Do clouds account for 30 percent of the world's albedo?
The average overall albedo of Earth, because of it's covering of clouds, is 30 %- 35%
What has the lowest albedo?
Albedo means reflectivity. The higher the albedo, the more light (and heat) is being reflected. Generally, the darker the color, the lower the albedo : most of the energy is absorbed. Snow has a fairly high albedo, as do clouds. Black tar roofs have a very low albedo.
What are the factors the determine a planets albedo?
Clouds can increase a planet's albedo asthey reflect the radiation
What is the albedo of Neptune?
The average overall albedo of Earth, itsplanetary albedo, is 30 to 35%, because of the covering by clouds, but varies widely locally across the surface, depending on the geological and environmental features.
Mars has an albedo magnitude of?
The albedo of Mars is .15; you can see the albedo of all of the planets and moons in the solar system at the Nine Planets web site, linked below. "Albedo" is a measure of how reflective a body is. The higher the number, the more reflective the surface. So a high albedo says that a planet or asteroid reflects most of the light that hits it, while a low albedo indicates that most of the light is absorbed. Albedo can make calculations about climate change difficult. A planet with a high albedo reflects much of the Sun's light and heat, causing it not to heat up as much. A low albedo means that all of the solar radiation is absorbed and turned into heat. A warmer world will have less snow and ice cover, and thus a lower albedo, resulting in higher temperatures. On the other hand, a warmer world might have more clouds, which would increase Earth's albedo, reflect more sunlight, and reduce the heating effect. However, clouds also act to trap heat, sort of like a blanket. Whether the albedo effect would offset the "blanket" effect of clouds would depend on the type and height of the clouds and where they are located. Cloud effects are among the most important sources of uncertainty in modeling future climate change.
What is the major contributor to Earth's albedo?
Currently it is 0.367 - about 30%. However, in 1976 the albedo was 0.39 Which is close to desert sand) as used by Vangelis in his album of the same name.
How do clouds affect earth's energy budget?
Clouds can have a cooling albedo effect, reflecting incoming energy. They can also have a warming effect, when they prevent energy escaping into space.
What factors affect albedo?
Albedo refers to reflectivity of visible light, so anything that reflects light well will increase albedo. Clouds and ice are the two main things that reflect well, so any celestial body with either clouds or surface ice will shine pretty bright. This is one reason why Venus is so bright seen from earth. It has bright cloud tops that reflect the sun's light efficiently.
Which Earth material has the highest albedo?
Probably snow, if your Earth includes the totality of items found on the planet. Some clouds would have an albedo almost as high - but only in parts. If you wish to limit your answer to earth solids, then perhaps milky quartz, and marble would have a high albedo.
How does altitude affect the composition of clouds?
The greenhouse effect is weak for low altitude clouds, so their albedo effect dominates and they cool the Earth's climate. In contrast, cold high altitude cirrus clouds may either cool or warm the climate.
