Albedo of Earth

One of the factors that influence the regulation of temperature at a global level is the albedo of the earth. It is known as the albedo effect and it is a parameter that greatly influences the temperature and, therefore, is affecting the climate change. You must know the effects of albedo very well in order to draw conclusions and develop plans that help reduce the effects of albedo. global warming.

In this article we are going to explain what the albedo of the Earth is and how it fluctuates and changes the global temperature. How does this phenomenon affect climate change?

What is the albedo of the Earth?

We have mentioned that this effect influences global temperatures in a certain way. Albedo is an effect that occurs when the sun's rays strike a surface and these rays are returned back to outer space. As we know, not all solar radiation that affects our planet stays or is absorbed by the earth. Part of this solar radiation is reflected back to the atmosphere by the presence of clouds, another is retained in the atmosphere by greenhouse gases and the rest come to the surface.

Well, depending on the color of the surface on which the sun's rays fall, a greater amount will be reflected or a greater amount will be absorbed. For dark colors, the absorption rate of solar rays is higher. Black is the color that is capable of absorbing the most amount of heat. On the contrary, lighter colors are able to reflect a greater amount of solar radiation. In this case, the target is the one with the highest absorption rate. This is the reason why before in the villages only white houses were seen. It is a way of insulating the house from the high summer temperatures due to less heat absorption.

For the set of all the surfaces of the planet and their absorption and reflection rates of the solar rays make up the albedo of the Earth. Depending on the predominant color or the different types of surface that exist on our planet, we will be absorbing more or less incident solar radiation. This fact has a great impact on climate change as we will see in this article.

Albedo and climate change

Surely you are wondering what this effect has to do with climate change and global warming. Well, the albedo of the Earth influences enormously, in addition to all the greenhouse gases and the increase in their concentration in the atmosphere. The poles of the Earth have a very pronounced albedo effect, since the surface is totally white due to the presence of polar caps. This means that a large part, if not most, of the solar radiation that falls on the surface of the poles is reflected back and not stored as heat.

On the other hand, surfaces with a darker tone such as seas, oceans and even forests we find a higher absorption rate. This is because the seas are dark in color like the treetops. As less amount of solar radiation is reflected, its absorption rate is higher.

The relationship between the Earth's albedo and climate change is that with the imminent melting of the polar ice caps, the amount of solar rays that are returned to outer space is decreasing. The part that is melting is changing its color from light to dark, so more heat will be absorbed and the earth's temperature will increase even more. This is like the whiting that bites its tail.

We are increasing world temperatures due to an increase in greenhouse gases that retain heat in the atmosphere and, therefore, the polar caps are melting, which, in turn, contributed to a cooling effect thanks to the reflection of the sun's rays that impinged on its surface.

Forests regarded as demons

As human beings always tend to go to extremes, as soon as they hear that forests have higher rates of absorption of solar rays they throw their hands on their heads. It not only happens with this, but with everything that they do not know. Not everything is one extreme nor everything is another. Let's see, it is true that a forest is capable of absorbing more solar radiation, so the temperature will increase. Further, as the polar ice caps melt, it will be replaced by sea surface, being this darker and, therefore, increasing its absorption.

Well, even if this is the case, we must bear in mind that forests contain millions of species of plants that carry out photosynthesis and that will purify our atmosphere, reducing the concentration of greenhouse gases that we have released into the atmosphere. It is impossible for humans to end up demonizing these forests just by misrepresenting information that they have not been able to treat or that they do not understand correctly.

In addition, there are numerous studies that corroborate the influence of large forest masses in the presence of rainfall. The more forest masses, the greater the amount of rainfall, which is fundamental to the global drought caused by climate change. Although it is silly to mention it, all precautions are little, but trees also provide us with the oxygen that we breathe and that we could not live without.

Solution to the problem

You don't have to demonize the trees or take things to an extreme. The important thing is to reduce the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere using renewable energy and modifying consumption habits to alter the economic system. This will result in less heat-retaining gases in the atmosphere, and thus the poles of the Earth will not melt. If the poles are not melted, the surface area that absorbs heat will not increase, nor will sea levels rise.

If we plant and increase the extent of the forests, we will also further reduce the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.

Hopefully climate change does not continue to advance and people do not continue to demonize forests for this cause.