If the amount of snow and ice in the polar regions of Earth were to decline due to global warming, how would you expect this to affect the radiation budget of Earth?


The percent of radiation reflected from a given surface is the albedo. Snow has one of the highest albedo percentages, in that up to 95% of sunlight may be reflected from the snow surface. If total snow cover on Earth is reduced, the energy that would have been reflected becomes absorbed instead. Increased polar snow and ice melt will result in higher sea levels, which coupled with rising ocean temperatures will cause an increase in evaporation rates that will add more water vapor (a greenhouse gas) to the atmosphere and, subsequently, increase the amount of radiation returned to Earth.

Environmental & Atmospheric Sciences

You might also like to view...

The principle of original horizontality means that sedimentary rocks have not been

A) folded. B) lithified. C) eroded. D) metamorphosed.

Environmental & Atmospheric Sciences

In the Northern Hemisphere, surface currents flow to the ________ of wind direction; in the Southern Hemisphere, surface currents flow to the ________

a. right; left b. right; right c. left; left d. left; right

Environmental & Atmospheric Sciences

Explain what the pH scale is and how it is used to measure acid rain

What will be an ideal response?

Environmental & Atmospheric Sciences

What caused the dramatic decline in Guam's native bird species?

A) the thinning of their eggshells and the subsequent death of their young as a result of heavy DDT use on the island in the 1970s B) radiation poisoning caused by nuclear tests of the United States and France C) climatic change in the region D) the elimination by humans of its food supply E) the accidental introduction of the non-native brown tree snake

Environmental & Atmospheric Sciences