Final answer:
The reflective quality of a surface is known as its albedo. A high albedo indicates more reflection and less absorption of sunlight, with Earth's average albedo being about 30%. Absorptive surfaces, not reflective ones, more closely model a perfect blackbody.
Step-by-step explanation:
The reflective quality of a surface, which determines how much sunlight is reflected as opposed to being absorbed, is known as its albedo. A high albedo means that the surface reflects more sunlight, and a low albedo indicates it absorbs more. For example, snow and clouds have a high albedo and reflect most sunlight, while darker surfaces like oceans and forests have a lower albedo and absorb more sunlight. The Earth's average albedo is about 30%. Therefore, surfaces with high albedo may contribute less to global warming than surfaces with low albedo, as less solar energy is absorbed.
Contrastingly, regarding the question of whether reflective or absorptive surfaces more closely model a perfect blackbody, the answer is absorptive surfaces. Absorptive surfaces, unlike reflective ones, absorb the majority of incoming light and are closer to the ideal blackbody, which is an object that absorbs all incident electromagnetic radiation.