8.

7
Wearing dark clothing on a sunny day usually makes
you feel hotter than wearing light-coloured clothing.
The reason is that lighter-coloured surfaces reflect more
solar energy and so stay cooler.

Reflecting Radiation
albedo: the proportion of
the Suns radiation that is
reflected by a surface

The proportion of incoming radiation that is reflected by a surface is

called its albedo. Surfaces with a high albedo reflect more radiation than
those with a low albedo (Figure 1). For example, clouds reflect a lot of
radiation and have an average albedo of 40 % to 70 %. Forests do not
reflect much radiation and have an average albedo of 10 % to 20 %.
snow and
ice 85 %

albedo values

grasslands 20 %

Figure 1 Different surfaces reflect different

amounts of the Suns radiation.

TRY This Albedo Basics

Skills: Performing, Observing, Analyzing, Evaluating, Communicating

3.A., 3.B.

In this activity, you will observe the effect of albedo

on temperature change, using a light source shining
on different reflective surfaces.

3. Place the light source 20 cm directly above the

thermometers. Check and record the temperature
of each thermometer every 1 min for 10 min.

Equipment and Materials: white and black

construction paper; 2 thermometers; light source

A. Plot a graph of the recorded temperatures.

1. Lay two thermometers side by side, 3 cm apart,

on the lab bench. Cover the lower portion of
one thermometer with a small piece of white
paper. Cover the lower portion of the second
thermometer with a small piece of black paper.
2. Record the initial temperatures.

316 Chapter 8 Earths Climate System

T/ I

B. Which colour of paper resulted in the higher

temperature? T/I
C. Which colour of paper had the higher albedo?
Explain. T/I C
D. Which surfaces on Earth might be represented by
the white and black paper in this activity? T/ I

NEL

Changes in Earths Albedo

In Section 8.6, you saw that Earths temperature stays in a certain
range when energy in equals energy out. Changes that affect albedo
can affect Earths ability to maintain this energy balance (Figure 2).
If the ice in a region melts, then the albedo of the region
decreases. Then, less incoming radiation from the Sun is reflected
and more energy is absorbed. This causes Earths temperature to
increase, which in turn causes more ice to melt, and so on.
Changes in albedo can also have a cooling effect. For example,
volcanic eruptions can spew gas and ashes into the atmosphere.
The gas and ashes reflect radiation, so less radiation can be
absorbed. As a result, Earths temperature falls, the amount of snow
and ice cover increases, and so on.

ice melts

less of Suns
radiation reflected
by the ice
warming
cycle

more ice
forms

Earths
temperature
increases

dig deeper

Did You Know?

The Year with No Summer
In 1815, Mount Tambora in
Indonesia erupted, sending
150 km3 of dust into the
stratosphere. The next year
was called the year with
no summer. There was
widespread famine in North
America following summer
snowfalls and frost.

more of Suns
radiation reflected
by the ice
cooling
cycle

Earths
temperature
decreases

Figure 2 Changes in albedo can result in the warming and cooling of Earth.

8.7 Wrap Up
Albedo is the proportion of radiation reflected by a surface.
An increase in Earths albedo can cause a drop in temperature. A decrease
in Earths albedo can result in a rise in temperature.

Check Your Learning

1. Fresh snow has an albedo of about 85 %, and old
snow has an albedo of about 50 %. Which will reflect
more of the Suns radiation? Explain why. K / U C
2. You want to keep a bottle of pop cool on a sunny
day, but you only have a white cloth and a black
cloth with you. Which cloth would you use to wrap
your pop and why? K /U C

4. Scientists think that a giant meteorite crashed into

Earth millions of years ago, resulting in the extinction
of the dinosaurs. The meteorites impact produced a
thick cloud of particles that prevented some sunlight
from reaching Earth. Why do you think this might
have led to the extinction of dinosaurs? T/I

3. How would a large volcanic eruption change

Earths albedo? How would this change affect
Earths temperature? K /U A

5. The icecaps at Earths poles are becoming smaller

as the ice melts. Explain how the melting of the polar
icecaps might change Earths temperature. A C

NEL

8.7 Albedo 317