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Which of the following areas would not have a low albedo value?

A. Urban areas
B. Forests
C. Bodies of water
D. Deserts

I believe it's A, but I'm not sure.

1 Answer

3 votes

Final answer:

Deserts have a higher albedo value compared to dark forests, bodies of water, and urban areas, because they reflect more sunlight due to their light-colored surfaces.

Step-by-step explanation:

The albedo of a surface is a measure of how much sunlight that surface reflects. Low albedo surfaces absorb more sunlight while high albedo surfaces reflect more. For instance, dark forests and bodies of water have lower albedo because they tend to absorb more sunlight. On the other hand, deserts, with their light-colored sand and sparse vegetation, reflect a significant amount of sunlight, thus possessing a higher albedo. Urban areas can have both high and low albedo values depending on the characteristics of the buildings and the materials used, but they generally have a lower albedo value compared to deserts due to dark pavements and rooftops which absorb more sunlight. Therefore, the correct answer is D, deserts would not have a low albedo value.

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