Which of the following has the lowest albedo? dry, light sandy soils forests asphault fresh snow

Applications and Investigations in Earth Science (9th Edition)
9th Edition
ISBN:9780134746241
Author:Edward J. Tarbuck, Frederick K. Lutgens, Dennis G. Tasa
Publisher:Edward J. Tarbuck, Frederick K. Lutgens, Dennis G. Tasa
Chapter1: The Study Of Minerals
Section: Chapter Questions
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### Question
**Which of the following has the lowest albedo?**

- dry, light sandy soils
- forests
- asphalt
- fresh snow

#### Explanation:
The image presents a multiple-choice question about albedo, which refers to the reflectivity of a surface, typically of the Earth’s surface. Albedo is measured on a scale from 0 (no reflection) to 1 (perfect reflection). Lower albedo indicates that a surface absorbs more sunlight rather than reflecting it.

**Option Analysis:**
1. **Dry, light sandy soils:** These typically have moderate albedo, reflecting a fair amount of sunlight.
2. **Forests:** They tend to have a relatively low albedo because the dark canopy absorbs a significant amount of sunlight.
3. **Asphalt:** Known for having very low albedo, asphalt absorbs most of the sunlight and reflects only a small fraction.
4. **Fresh snow:** Fresh snow has a very high albedo, reflecting the majority of the sunlight.

From the options provided, **asphalt** is the surface with the lowest albedo.

This question is useful for understanding the basics of albedo and its implications on climate and temperature regulation on Earth.
Transcribed Image Text:### Question **Which of the following has the lowest albedo?** - dry, light sandy soils - forests - asphalt - fresh snow #### Explanation: The image presents a multiple-choice question about albedo, which refers to the reflectivity of a surface, typically of the Earth’s surface. Albedo is measured on a scale from 0 (no reflection) to 1 (perfect reflection). Lower albedo indicates that a surface absorbs more sunlight rather than reflecting it. **Option Analysis:** 1. **Dry, light sandy soils:** These typically have moderate albedo, reflecting a fair amount of sunlight. 2. **Forests:** They tend to have a relatively low albedo because the dark canopy absorbs a significant amount of sunlight. 3. **Asphalt:** Known for having very low albedo, asphalt absorbs most of the sunlight and reflects only a small fraction. 4. **Fresh snow:** Fresh snow has a very high albedo, reflecting the majority of the sunlight. From the options provided, **asphalt** is the surface with the lowest albedo. This question is useful for understanding the basics of albedo and its implications on climate and temperature regulation on Earth.
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