OUR REFLECTIVE WORLD

By Kyle P.

Green Group

This image shows what the short wave radiation looks like in January white being more radiation blue being less radiation.

1. a. Using the legend, determine the value (number and unit) for the darkest blue/dark-blue/almost-black color.

   The darkest blue color represents 0 watts per square meter.

2. b. Where is this color located in the image?

   The color is located from Canada and to the north.

3. c. Determine the value for the lightest yellow color. Where is this located in the image?

   The light yellow colors represent 425 watts per square meter it is located in the southern hemisphere.

4. d. Can you think of a possible reason for this situation in January?

   This is because that side of the earth is tilted towards the sun in the southern hemisphere and there is light for 24 hours there, and because ice reflects light.

5. e. What do you think the image would look like in July? Why?

   I think that the picture would show the opposite of what is showed in January because the earth will be tilted the opposite way.

6. f. Click on the image for July to check your answer and describe what you found below:

   Yes my predictions were correct and the white was in the north pole.

7. g. In general, does water or land appear to have the higher reflectance?

   Land appears to have a higher light reflectance than water because looking at both January and July the opposite months the land has most of the reflected light.

8. h. Explain why the poles seem to always show the extremes of reflectance.

   Poles have extremes because Ice is reflecting the waves and because the poles get 24 hours of sunlight per day for half the year.

9. i. Earth’s energy balance is the difference between energy coming in (from the sun) and that leaving (through radiation to space). How does reflectance impact the energy balance?

   More energy leaves the earth in radiation when more ice or things colored white things that are black absorb light since the earths energy balance is a little off set because the earth is getting warmer a little at a time.

10. j. How does reflectance and the energy balance impact the temperature of the planet?

    The more light that is reflected the less the earth heats up, this is because ice is white and white reflects light. Also if more sunlight was reflected the temperature would go down, but if more light was absorbed then the earth would be hotter. Also with global warming snow is melting and there is less white on earth so earth is heating up faster now due to global warming which was all caused by the heating earth. ALso since more snow is melting faster there will be less snow sooner. All of this affects plants and animals habitats some animals/plants might die while others thrive. All species are going to have to find a new way to survive if the earth heats up to much. With less reflectance this will happen faster.

    This link shows where I got my information for these answers here.

    

    This image shows what the reflected light levels were in june on the same scale as the earlier image.