Question

The albedo effect refers to the

-relative reflectivity of the different colors of the Earth's surfaces.
-strength of solar radiation determined by seasonality.
-depth that light penetrates through the water.
-strength of the sunlight energy determined by incident angle.

Answer 1

The term used to describe the reflectivity of a surface is known as the albedo effect. This value determines how much solar radiation is reflected into space versus how much is absorbed by the Earth, influencing the planet's temperature and climate.

Step-by-step explanation:

The albedo effect refers to the measure of the reflectivity of a surface. Specifically, it is the amount of solar radiation reflected from an object or surface, often expressed as a percentage. The Earth's albedo affects how much energy enters its system, with different surfaces and materials reflecting or absorbing sunlight differently.

Light-colored surfaces such as snow and clouds have higher albedo and therefore reflect more sunlight, while darker surfaces like oceans and forests absorb more sunlight. Additionally, aerosols in the atmosphere, depending on their composition, can either increase or decrease the Earth's albedo, impacting the climate accordingly. Human activity such as deforestation, urbanization, and the emission of particulates like soot can also affect the Earth's albedo.