Final answer:
The question deals with Earth's surface materials' albedo - their reflectivity - which is crucial for understanding the climate system and energy balance, as well as water distribution on Earth, which impacts water resources and weather patterns. The correct answer is option (4) Snow - 60 to 90%
Step-by-step explanation:
The question pertains to the percentages of various substances on Earth's surface and their albedo, which is the measure of reflectivity of Earth's surface materials. Each percentage range provided in the original question relates to how much sunlight is reflected (albedo) by different surfaces, such as snow, vegetation, water, etc. This is a critical factor in understanding Earth's climate system and energy balance. For example, snow with an albedo range of 60 to 90% reflects most of the sunlight, contributing to a cooler surface temperature. In contrast, asphalt with a low albedo absorbs more sunlight, leading to a higher surface temperature.
To understand the Earth's water distribution, we can see that a vast majority, 68.7%, is contained within icecaps and glaciers, while 30.1% is groundwater. Surface water, such as lakes, swamps, and rivers, makes up a much smaller percentage of Earth's total water volume. The importance of these percentages is clear when considering water resources and climate change, as these factors influence both local and global weather patterns.
Other factors affecting Earth's albedo and thereby its temperature are cloud coverage and soil composition. The presence of clouds can significantly alter the amount of sunlight that reaches the surface, as well as how much is reflected back into space. Soil composition, including inorganic mineral matter, organic content, and the volume of water and air, also affects Earth's surface albedo.