Final answer:
Albedo is a measure of reflectivity and is significant in the field of study of physics for understanding the Earth's energy balance and climate. It affects the amount of solar radiation absorbed by different surfaces and thus impacts temperature and climate patterns.
Step-by-step explanation:
Albedo refers to the measure of reflectivity of a surface, specifically how much sunlight it reflects back into space. In the field of study of physics, albedo is significant as it plays a crucial role in understanding the Earth's energy balance and climate. In the context of your essay, albedo is significant because it affects the amount of solar radiation absorbed by different surfaces, such as ice, water, or land, which in turn affects temperature and climate patterns.