Solar Radiation and Albedo Activity-1 meister
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Dec 6, 2023
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Solar Radiation and Albedo
In this activity, you will have a closer look at solar radiation and what happens with that radiation as it
travels through the atmosphere.
First, let’s look at a satellite composite image looking at the land surface albedo. This image is from
MODIS, the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer. Data for this image were collected over a
16-day period.
What is the albedo; how is it defined?
In the strictest sense, albedo or whiteness is defined as the proportion of light reflected from a
surface.
Explain the map shown below. What areas have a high albedo and why? Similarly, wat areas
have low albedo? Why?
Areas with higher albedo have cold temperature, whereas hotter temperature areas have lower.
This occurs because the colder temperatures don’t allow too much energy to be absorbed.
Which season is represented by this map?
Spring.
Why are there no data over Antarctica and over northern Greenland?
Because it is so cold there little to no energy can reach surface, it only reflects.
Explain how this map was created and why observations over a two-week period were required
to produce this map.
We want to see how much the earth in changing. We want to see how much the energy is
reaching the surface and in there is any change.
The graph below shows the globally-averaged albedo over the period 2000-2014.
What factors and processes can cause variations in the albedo?
These results suggest that the annual variation of albedo in summer is influenced by annual
changes in air temperature and precipitation levels, while in winter the variation is influenced by
the annual change of precipitation levels and the frequency of precipitation.
In particular name one factor that could lead to a higher-than-normal albedo, and explain how
this works.
Ice albedo feedback is a positive feedback climate process where a change in the area of ice
caps, glaciers, and sea ice alters the albedo and surface temperature of a planet. Ice is very
reflective, therefore it reflects far more solar energy back to space than the other types of land
area or open water.
What effect do volcanoes have on the global albedo?
Big volcanic eruptions have increased albedo by throwing sulphuric aerosols high up in the air
for several years, at times bringing on new ice ages.
Over this time period, no trend in albedo is observed. If global warming continues, would you
expect a more sustained trend? In what direction, and why?
Recent research indicates that global albedo is fairly constant, and having no material effect
on global temperatures. Local effects may be more pronounced. It would definitely start to decrease
because as our world changes humans will start to expose the world to negative changes, as in
change in landscape.
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Now, let’s look at radiation in some more detail. In particular, have you ever wondered why the sky is
blue and sunsets are red? After completing the following answers, hopefully you will understand.
First, consider why a rainbow forms.
What two “ingredients” do you need for a rainbow to form?
Rain and sun
Because rainbows are created by light via raindrops, the best time to catch a rainbow is when it’s sunny
and raining. If you’re trying to spot one, the key is to face the rain and have your back to the sun.
What happens when water travels through a water droplet? (If you need a clue, recall the cover
art of Pink Floyd’s “Dark Side of the Moon”)
The drop of water goes through the water cycle. Evaporation, condensation, precipitation, or
sublimation, deposition
What looked like white light becomes separated into different colors. What does this tell you?
Light bends when its passes through a triangular block of glass called a prism. Each color bends
at a different angle, so they separate out and form a spectrum. This tells me that as light bends
new colors are produced.
This explains the rainbow, but does not quite explain why on a cloud-free day, the sky is blue.
How does solar radiation pass through the atmosphere on a clear day?
After passing through the atmosphere, solar radiation reaches the oceanic and continental land
surface and is reflected or absorbed.
What happens when the blue and violet waves are separated from the other waves?
The blue and violet waves, however, are just the right size to hit and bounce off of the molecules
of gas in the atmosphere. This causes the blue and violet waves to be separated from the rest of
the light and become scattered in every direction for all to see.
And what happens to the other waves?
These other waves stay in one direction.
What happens when the Sun starts to set on the horizon?
Civil twilight begins the moment the sun slips below the horizon.