Which of the following would have the highest albedo?
A) Fresh snow
B) Open water
C) Forest
D) Soil

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Albedo refers to the percentage of incoming light that is reflected back from a surface. Fresh snow has a high albedo because it is highly reflective, reflecting up to 80-90% of incoming solar radiation. Open water and soil, on the other hand, have low albedo because they are both good absorbers of solar radiation. Forest is also not likely to have a high albedo because the trees and other vegetation absorb and scatter much of the incoming light.

Which of the Following Would Have the Highest Albedo