Answer:
Explanation:
Albedo is the radiation reflected by the earth´s surface to the universe.
Albedo might be defined as a relation between reflected light from a particle and the incident light. It is the fraction of the incident radiation that is reflected by any object. If the surface is mostly clear and clean, most of the incident radiation is reflected. But if the surface is dark and rugose, most of the incident radiation is absorbed, and the temperature of the absorbing object will increase.
Albedo value is always inferior or equal to one and can be expressed as a percentage. The surface that reflects 100% of the incident light will have an albedo value = 1. But if the surface absorbs all the radiation and does not reflect any percentage, the albedo value = 0. Note: there is no real object that might reflect or absorb 100% of the incident radiation.
The importance of albedo is that it avoids high temperatures on the earth. There are many different surfaces with different albedo values. Global variations in albedo are natural processes due to exogenic and endogenic variations. But to these natural events, we must add all the variations caused by human beings´ actions, which increase greenhouse gases, decreasing albedo, and increasing global warming. The increase of greenhouse gases, such as CO₂, decreases albedo. The same occurs with atmospheric dust due to volcanic eruptions. Additional material interposes between the earth´s surface and the universe, decreasing the energy return to the universe.
