Reflected Shortwave radiation (cont.)

• In general, does water or land appear to have the higher reflectance?

• land has more reflective abilities

• Explain why the poles seem to always show the extremes of reflectance. I think that the poles seem to always show the extremes of reflectance because they have 24 hours of sun light. And because there is a lot of snow.

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• 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?

• How does reflectance and the energy balance impact the temperature of the planet?

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• If more light is absorbed then the earth will heat up. If more light is reflected then the earth will cool off.