Understanding Albedo and Its Importance in Climate Change

Albedo is a measure of how much light that falls on a surface is reflected back into the atmosphere, rather than being absorbed by the surface. It is defined as the ratio of the amount of light reflected by a surface to the amount of light that falls on it.
Albedo is an important factor in determining the Earth's energy balance and climate. Surfaces with high albedos, such as snow and ice, reflect a large proportion of the sun's rays back into space, while surfaces with low albedos, such as forests and oceans, absorb more of the sun's rays and contribute to the warming of the planet.
Albedo can vary depending on the type of surface, the angle of the sun's rays, and the presence of clouds and other atmospheric factors. It is typically measured on a scale from 0 to 1, with higher values indicating a greater proportion of light being reflected back into space.