Solar energy on Earth - Review

_______is a measure of the reflective characteristics of the Earth's surface.

• Albedo Effect

• Greenhouse Effect

What has the highest albedo?

• the oceans

• Ice in the Arctic or Antarctic

• the ground

• roads

Which type of surface would have the highest albedo effect?

• Forest
• Snow
• Water
• Rock

Which would you expect to have the lowest albedo?

• dark soil

• white sand

• ice and snow

• grass

Rank the following from low albedo to high albedo.

(1) Ocean

(2) Sand

(3) Ice

(4) Asphalt

• 1, 2, 3, 4

• 3, 2, 4, 1

• 4, 3, 2, 1

• 4, 1, 2, 3

If you want to keep your house cool all year, should you design the house roof to have a high or a low albedo?

• High

• Low

Why is the Equator warmest?

• Because it is closest to the sun.
• Because it receives the most direct sunlight
• Because no clouds form here.
• Because it is far from the sun

What heats faster, land or water?

• Land

• Water

Some energy is absorbed by land, water, and the atmosphere and some energy is reflected back to space.

• True

• False

A light color has a higher albedo than a dark color.

• True

• False