What Is Albedo and What Does It Have to Do With Global Warming?

Abstract

Albedo is the word to describe the amount sunlight that bounces, or reflects, off of the Earth. The concept of albedo is a very important one in discussions of Earth’s climate, because it relates to how much heat is absorbed by various parts of the Earth. Earth’s albedo is influenced by the physical properties of the planet’s various surfaces. Some surfaces, such as ice and snow, reflect more of the sunlight and absorb less heat than do surfaces like oceans and forests. However, the physical properties of Earth’s surfaces can change, both naturally and due to human activities. To protect Earth and its inhabitants from global warming, there may be ways we can engineer Earth’s albedo so that more of the sun’s heat is reflected away from our planet, but these theories require more research. In this article, we will explain what albedo is, how Earth’s albedo can change, and how albedo influences climate.