Lesson Fourty-Three: The Albedo Effect
I feel like I’m a fairly nerdy person when it comes to sustainability and the changes to our planet and climate. As it turns out, I am especially nerdy when it comes to certain scientific processes - ones like the Albedo Effect.
This effect is directly tied to climate change, however it’s not commonly discussed in that conversation. Hopefully this lesson will shed some light on an important factor in global warming and help build a more well-rounded understanding of what is happening.
Let’s start with the building blocks of this lesson.
Imagine it’s summer and it’s 35 degrees Celsius outside. To keep cool in the heat, which shirt would you wear?
The dark green one? Or the light grey one?
If you picked the lighter one, your rationale probably included thinking that the light grey shirt would reflect the sun’s rays and keep more of that hot energy away from you.
The dark green shirt would do the opposite and absorb the heat. So if it was winter and it was -15 degrees Celsius, you’d want the dark green shirt…although it’s not too recommended to wear only a shirt in winter. 😬
When this principle is applied to the planet, it’s known as the albedo effect.
Sunlight is the primary driver of Earth’s climate and weather. Exactly how much sunlight is absorbed depends on the reflectivity of the atmosphere (clouds) and the surface (land and water).
Let’s look at a couple of examples:
IF THE WHOLE PLANET WAS COVERED IN ICE
If an area is covered with snow and ice, about 15% of the sun’s heat is absorbed. The rest (85%) is reflected back Into space. (NASA)
IF THE WHOLE PLANET WAS COVERED IN ROCK AND PLANTS
Now if the whole planet was covered in rock and green plants, about 85% of the sun’s rays would be absorbed - heating up the planet up. The rest (15%) would be reflected back into space. (NASA)
Our planet is filled with different climates, water systems, and land ranges.
Here is the difference between the albedo in February (left) and July (right). Images Source: NASA
WHY YOU SHOULD CARE
1️⃣ The planet is getting hotter.*
2️⃣ Leading to less ice and snow in the winter.
3️⃣ Leading to less sun rays getting reflected back into space, and more getting absorbed by the planet.
4️⃣ Leading to the planet getting hotter.
Bringing us back to 1️⃣
This is a classic climate feedback loop.
That’s all folks! If you have any questions about the albedo effect or any feedback loops, share them down below. ✨I love hearing from you!
