Honors Sea Levels Rising and Albedo

Front

What is albedo?

Back

Albedo is the measure of the reflectivity of a surface, expressed as a fraction of the total incoming solar radiation that is reflected by that surface.

Front

Which surface has the highest albedo?

Back

Ice and snow have the highest albedo, reflecting most of the sunlight that hits them.

Front

What is thermal expansion?

Back

Thermal expansion is the increase in volume of a substance as it is heated, due to the movement of its particles.

Front

What is convection?

Back

Convection is the flow of energy that occurs when a warm liquid or gas rises and cooler liquid or gas sinks, creating a circulation pattern.

Front

What causes sea level rise?

Back

Sea level rise can be caused by glaciers melting, ice sheets melting, and thermal expansion of water due to warming.

Front

Which of the following does NOT cause sea level rise?

Back

Sea ice melting does not contribute to sea level rise because it is already floating on water.

Front

How does a high albedo roof help in keeping a house cool?

Back

A high albedo roof reflects more sunlight, reducing heat absorption and keeping the house cooler.

Front

What is the difference between conduction and convection?

Back

Conduction is the transfer of heat through direct contact, while convection involves the movement of fluids (liquids or gases) to transfer heat.

Front

What is specific heat?

Back

Specific heat is the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of a unit mass of a substance by one degree Celsius.

Front

How does thermal energy relate to sea level rise?

Back

Thermal energy contributes to sea level rise through thermal expansion, as warmer water occupies more volume.