What is the albedo of a surface?

Albedo is defined as the fraction or percentage of solar radiation that is reflected off a surface rather than absorbed. This characteristic is crucial in understanding how different surfaces interact with sunlight and contribute to the Earth's energy balance. For instance, surfaces with high albedo, like ice and fresh snow, reflect most of the incoming solar radiation, while darker surfaces, such as forests or oceans, typically have lower albedo and absorb more solar energy.

This property has significant implications for climate and weather patterns, as areas with high albedo can help cool surrounding regions, whereas areas with low albedo can lead to increased warming due to the absorption of solar energy. Understanding albedo is essential in fields such as climatology, ecology, and environmental science, as it plays a vital role in modeling climate change and its impacts.