Question

What would happen to the solar energy that reaches Earth if the ground was covered with snow?

More solar radiation would be:
a. Conducted by the surface.
b. Converted to latent heat.
c. Absorbed by the surface.
d. Reflected by the surface.

Answer 1

If the ground is covered with snow, more solar energy that reaches Earth is reflected by the surface due to the high albedo of snow.

Step-by-step explanation:

When the ground is covered with snow, a significant amount of the solar energy that reaches Earth is reflected by the surface. Snow has a high albedo, which means that it reflects most of the solar radiation rather than absorbing it. Unlike darker surfaces that absorb more sunlight and convert it to heat, snow-covered surfaces prevent a large portion of solar energy from being absorbed. As such, when the Earth's surface is covered with snow, the correct answer is d. Reflected by the surface.