22.3k views
3 votes
An ice age is a period in which large areas of Earth are covered in ice. Throughout its history, Earth has experienced at least five such ice ages. Ice is white in color, so it reflects most of the sunlight it receives. Imagine that an ice age were to happen again on Earth. Which statement best explains how Earth’s temperature would be affected?

User Tanoh
by
4.6k points

2 Answers

2 votes

Answer:

The temperature will decrease

Step-by-step explanation:

User MaxiWheat
by
4.9k points
4 votes

Answer:

the albedo will increase and the temperatures will drop

Step-by-step explanation:

If an ice age occurs, the Earth will cool off. The reason for this will be the increased albedo. The ice has high albedo, thus it is reflecting big portion of the sunlight instead of absorbing it. Because of the much lower absorption of sunlight, the Earth will start to cool off, eventually resulting in several degrees drop of the average temperatures around the whole planet. Apart from the drop in temperature, the Earth will also be drier, with decreased amounts of precipitation because there will be less evaporation from the water bodies, which will also be reduced in size because parts of them will be frozen.

User Bharatwaja
by
5.5k points