Ice Albedo Feedback

ALBEDO IS AN estimate of the reflectivity of a surface. The sun produces solar radiation in wavelengths that can be reflected off of many of the Earths surfaces, some more so than others. The albedo of Earth is estimated as the ratio of the outgoing solar radiation (250–2500 nm.), and the incoming solar radiation. A surface that is perfectly reflective (all incoming light is reflected back again) would have an albedo of 100 percent reflection, or, as a ratio, 1.00. A surface that has no reflectivity would have an albedo of zero percent reflection, and a ratio of zero. On Earth, open water, such as the oceans, has an albedo of 0.05, whereas newly fallen snow has an albedo of 0.90. Ice and snow have ...