A surface that reflects solar energy

Clouds and the Energy Cycle

let as much solar energy reach the Earth''s surface. Instead, they reflect much of the solar energy back to space (their cloud albedo forcing is large). Although stratocumulus clouds also emit longwave radiation out to space and toward the Earth''s surface, they are near the surface and at almost the same temperature as the surface.

Climate and Earth''s Energy Budget

Three hundred forty watts per square meter of incoming solar power is a global average; solar illumination varies in space and time. The annual amount of incoming solar energy varies considerably from tropical latitudes to polar latitudes (described on page 2). At middle and high latitudes, it also varies considerably from season to season.

How does a surface absorb and reflect energy?

Every surface on earth absorbs and reflects energy at varying degrees, based on its color and texture. Dark-colored objects absorb more visible radiation; light-colored objects reflect more visible radiation. Shiny or smooth objects reflect more, while dull or rough objects absorb more.

My NASA Data

(Albedo is a quantity with no unit that indicates how well a surface reflects solar energy. Valid values are between 0 and 1 with 0 being a surface that absorbs all solar energy and 1 being a surface the reflects all solar energy.) What happens when a surface absorbs the light? (The surface can heat up. In the case of ice, it can melt.)

Albedo Calculator Online

Reflected Solar Radiation: The amount of solar energy reflected by the surface. Incident Solar Radiation: The total amount of solar energy incident on the surface. Example. Let''s consider an example. If a specific location receives 1000 Watts/m² of solar energy (Incident Solar Radiation) and reflects 300 Watts/m² back to space (Reflected

8.2: Earth''s Energy Balance

At the equator, the direct angle with which light reaches the surface results in more of the energy being absorbed rather than reflected. Finally, the poles reflect more solar energy than other parts of the Earth because the poles have a higher albedo. The albedo refers to reflectivity of a surface, expressed as the percentage of light that

Understanding Reflected Solar Energy of Glazing Systems in

The solar energy incident on a receiving surface is highly dependent on the orientation of that surface relative to the sun. As the angle between the sun and the receiving surface increases the effective solar exposure is reduced. Normally for a high summer sun, low solar name a few, can and do reflect solar energy onto adjacent materials

Solar energy to the Earth

Almost all of the Earth''s energy input comes from the sun.Not all of the sunlight that strikes the top of the atmosphere is converted into energy at the surface of the Earth. The Solar energy to the Earth refers to this energy that hits the surface of the Earth itself. The amount of energy that reaches the the Earth provides a useful understanding of the energy for the Earth as a system.

Looking Into Surface Albedo

This surface albedo effect strongly influences the absorption of sunlight. Forests, grasslands, ocean surfaces, ice caps, deserts, and cities all absorb, reflect, and radiate solar energy differently. Sunlight falling on a white glacier surface strongly reflects back into space, resulting in minimal heating of the surface and lower atmosphere.

Climate and Earth''s Energy Budget

Neither pole is receiving much incoming sunlight at this time of year, so they reflect little energy even though both are ice-covered. Finally, a net of about 17 percent of incoming solar energy leaves the surface as thermal infrared energy (heat) radiated by atoms and molecules on the surface. This net upward flux results from two large

Ice–albedo feedback

Diagram of ice–albedo feedback. Ice reflects more light back into space, whereas land and water absorb more of the sunlight. Ice–albedo feedback is a climate change feedback, where a change in the area of ice caps, glaciers, and sea ice alters the albedo and surface temperature of a planet. Because ice is very reflective, it reflects far more solar energy back to space than open

Science of Sea Ice

Absorbed solar energy can be used to heat the surface or, when sea ice is present, melt the surface. A value of 1 means the surface is a "perfect reflector" that reflects all incoming energy. Albedo generally applies to visible light, although it may involve some of the infrared region of the electromagnetic spectrum.

Understanding Reflected Solar Energy of Glazing Systems in

The solar energy incident on a receiving surface is highly dependent on the orientation of that surface relative to the sun. As the angle between the sun and the receiving surface increases the effective vinyl siding and painted wood, to name a few, can and do reflect solar energy onto adjacent materials. Contributing Factors Environmental

Albedo and Climate

The amount of energy reflected by a surface is called albedo. Dark colors have an albedo close to zero, meaning little or no energy is reflected. Above the Earth surface, clouds reflect large amount of sunlight out to space too. Earth''s planetary albedo is about 31% meaning that about a third of the solar energy that gets to Earth is

Energy in the Atmosphere | Earth Science

Albedo is a measure of how well a surface reflects light. A surface with high albedo reflects a large percentage of light. A snow field has high albedo. More solar energy reaches the low latitudes and the redistribution of heat by convection drives the planet''s air currents. Review Questions. 1. What is the difference between temperature

Meteorology Final Exam Test 2 Flashcards

The four thermal layers of the atmosphere in order beginning from the surface are: A)thermosphere, stratosphere, mesosphere and troposphere B)stratosphere, reflect the earth''s infrared energy C)reflect solar energy D)cool the air around them E)Both A and C. C)absorption of Earth''s long wave radiation.

solar energy

solar energy For the complete encyclopedic entry with media resources, visit:, and the surface radiates some of the energy back out in the form of infrared waves. As they rise through the atmosphere, they are intercepted by greenhouse gases, such as water vapor and carbon dioxide. Greenhouse gases trap the heat that reflects back up into

What is a perfect reflector albedo?

Albedos of different surfaces. An albedo of 1 would mean a perfect reflector and an albedo of 0 would absorb all light striking it. Albedo is the amount of sunlight (solar radiation) reflected by a surface, and is usually expressed as a percentage or a decimal value, with 1 being a perfect reflector and 0 absorbing all incoming light.

2.5: Earth''s Energy Balance

At the poles, because of the angle at which the solar energy strikes the surface, more of the light will glance off of the surface and the atmosphere and be reflected back into space. At the poles, the ice, snow and cloud cover create a much higher albedo, and the poles reflect more and absorb less solar energy than the lower latitudes

Atmospheric Absorption of solar Radiation

When a bright surface reflects sunlight, it reduces the amount of energy absorbed by the surface. This further cools the area, leading to more reflection and a continuous cooling effect. The atmosphere and clouds reflect a portion of the solar energy back into space, while the remainder is absorbed by the Earth''s surface. The surface

Solar Radiation Basics

Measurements of solar energy are typically expressed as total radiation on a horizontal surface,or as total radiation on a surface tracking the sun. Radiation data for solar electric (photovoltaic) systems are often represented as kilowatt-hours per square meter (kWh/m 2 ).

Albedo

The Earth''s surface doesn''t have a single albedo, rather a number of different albedos that are combined into a single number to accurately describe how the Earth reflects and absorbs solar energy as a whole. Figures 2 and 3 below illustrate different albedos around the world, and how those albedos change depending on the time of year.

Meteorology Quiz 2 Flashcards | Quizlet

Clouds play an important role in the earth''s energy budget because they: a. absorb longwave radiation and re-radiate it towards the surface. b. cool the air around them. c. reflect solar energy. d. reflect the earth''s infrared energy. e. Both absorb longwave radiation and re-radiate it towards the surface and reflect solar energy

Materials That Absorb & Reflect Solar Energy

The Earth receives energy radiated from the sun; at noon on a sunny day, it amounts to 1,000 watts per square meter. One way to harness that energy lies in understanding how materials absorb and reflect sunlight, then selecting for the job

Albedo

OverviewTerrestrial albedoExamples of terrestrial albedo effectsAstronomical albedoHistorySee alsoExternal links

Albedo is the fraction of sunlight that is diffusely reflected by a body. It is measured on a scale from 0 (corresponding to a black body that absorbs all incident radiation) to 1 (corresponding to a body that reflects all incident radiation). Surface albedo is defined as the ratio of radiosity Je to the irradiance Ee (flux per unit area) received by a surface. The proportion reflected is not only determin

Solar Reflectance Measurement | Encyclopedia MDPI

Solar reflectance is usually expressed as a value between zero, for a surface absorbing all incoming radiation, and one, for a perfect reflector—or as a percentage between 0 and 100%. For an opaque surface, solar reflectance is complementary to solar absorptance—that is, the ratio of absorbed to total incident solar energy.