Global Warming: The Albedo Effect   Term Paper ID:32923 Click to get this paper

Essay Subject: Describes the phenemenon of albedo or reflectivity of surfaces and relates this to global ...... More...

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Paper Abstract: Describes the phenemenon of albedo, or reflectivity of surfaces and relates this to global warming, focusing on how the melting of ice sheets decreases total earth reflectivity and may compound global warming. Contains an abstract. Paper Introduction: AbstractAlbedo or the percentage of incoming radiation reflected off a surface may interplay with the current escalation in climate change due to globalwarming Landscape conversions from one type to another may changeaggregate world albedo since different landscape types vary widely inreflectivity As ice sheets melt due to the earth\'s rising temperatures the removal of this highly reflective surface and the resultant increase inthe surface area of less-reflective oceans could cause a decrease in theearth\'s albedo This could result in a positive climatic Text of the Paper: The entire text of the paper is shown below. However, the text is somewhat scrambled. We want to give you as much information as we possibly can about our papers and essays, but we cannot give them away for free. In the text below you will find that while disordered, many of the phrases are essentially intact. From this text you will be able to get a solid sense of the writing style, the concepts addressed, and the sources used in the research paper. An albedo of 1 means that 1 % of incoming radiation is reflected(no radiation is absorbed); an albedo of means that % of incomingradiation is reflected (all radiation is absorbed). AbstractAlbedo, or the percentage of incoming radiation reflected off a surface,may interplay with the current escalation in climate change due to globalwarming. Due tothe many variables that affect global warming, it is difficult to predictthe overall direction of changes, but hypothetical situations can beassessed. Using computer models, scientists fromthe United Nations Environmental Programme have predicted that if worldemissions of carbon dioxide continue at the present rate, 2 5 levels willbe double those of today; this parameter alone could cause a 6 % reductionin summer Arctic sea ice (UNEP). 7 ||Glacier Ice |White to light blue | .2 - .4 ||Snow |White | .7 - .9 | The above table highlights dramatic difference among the albedos ofoceans, ice, and snow, reflecting approximately 1 %, 3 %, and 8 % ofincoming radiation respectively. United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP). This could result in a positive climatic feedback loopbetween the melting of ice sheets and the escalation of global warming. "Albedo." Eric Weisstein's World of Physics. 5. In Antarctica, temperatures have apparently cooled over the pastthirty years, but scientists predict that changing levels of ozone andmethane will lead to increasing temperatures there over the next fiftyyears ("Study shows potential..."). "Significant changes likely in the Arctic from climate change." Feb. For instance, as the earth's temperature rises, changes invegetation types may occur that may change the albedo of landmasses. The following tablegives the colors and albedos for different surfaces that make up largeareas of the earth (Weisstein, USGS):|Surface |Color |Albedo ||Forests |Dark green to light green | . Landscape conversions from one type to another may changeaggregate world albedo, since different landscape types vary widely inreflectivity. A lowertotal earth albedo would in turn be predicted to increase global warming,which would then increase the rate of glacier melting, a process referredto as a "climate feedback" (EPA). Thewater content of a soil, which varies seasonally and due to irrigationschedules, also influences its albddo; wet soils are darker and have loweralbedos than dry soils. Snow, being close to purewhite, has the highest albedo at .7 - .9. 5 - .3 ||Grasslands |Medium green to golden tan | . 2 4. Oct. Weisstein, Eric W. Large-scale changes in the amount ofliquid water, ice, and snow on earth could have a significant impact on theearth's albedo. 5 - .3 ||Sand |Medium tan to light yellow | .2 - .4 ||Granite |Medium gray to light gray | .3 - .35 ||Snow |White | .7 - .9 | When analyzing the table, it is interesting to note the way albedofollows color. 8, 2 4. Global Warming: The Albedo Effect How important is the albedo of the earth's surfaces to the progressionof global warming? This 14,2 -year-old event led to a seventy-foot rise in sealevels within 5 years. Less fertile soils of dry regions containing littleorganic matter are light-colored and can have albedos as high as .3. Recent studies and field observations indicate that suchchanges are already underway. Dark colored surfaces such as the dark green of a forest orthe black of a fertile soil have low albedos (approximately . What impact could changes in the composition of theearth's surfaces caused by global warming have upon the earth's climate? The albedos of water depend on itsphysical state, as is seen in the following table, which compares differentareas of frozen and liquid water in the Arctic (USGS): |Surface |Color |Albedo ||Arctic Ocean |Dark blue | . As ice sheets melt due to the earth's rising temperatures,the removal of this highly reflective surface and the resultant increase inthe surface area of less-reflective oceans could cause a decrease in theearth's albedo. 2, 2 2. (No date given). 1, 2 2. A model for how this may affect the earth in the future was broughtto the scientific community in 2 2 upon the discovery that a previously-known rise in the earth's ocean level at the close of the last ice age waslikely cause by the collapse of an Antarctic ice sheet ("Antarctica key tosudden..."). Highly fertile soils of thetropics that are rich in organic matter appear almost black and can havealbedos as low as . This can be predicted based on themuch lower albedo of the oceans compared to ice and snow, as noted above,compounded with rising sea levels caused by melting ice sheets. 5 from thisdata). "Global warming." Oct. Also of interest is the variability in the albedo of a given earthsurface. "Global warming." (No date given). The escalation of losses in surfacearea to the Lassen Ice Sheet in Antarctica has recently added credence tothe assessment that major world ice sheets are following a melting trend(UNEP). Works Cited "Antarctic key to sudden sea level rise in the past." Science Daily. At thecurrent rate of global warming, the earth's surface albedo may decreaseover time due especially to the melting of ice sheets and an increase inocean surface area. "Study shows potential for Antarctic climate change." Science Daily. Soil albedos, for instance, vary due to the different varieties ofsoils and conditions of soils over a season. In addition to changes in terrestrial landscapes, global warming mayhave a significant impact on proportions of the earth's surface that arecovered by liquid or solid water. 5 - .2 ||Soils |Black to light tan | . 5 - .1 ||Urban Areas |Dark gray to medium gray | . This could affect a positive feedback loop in which global warmingincreases vegetation, which in turn could magnify global warming. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Ecobridge. While not necessarily predictive of what willhappen as the world's ice sheets continue to melt due to today's climatechanges, this event from the past indicates that dramatic changes caused bythe earth's warming can occur suddenly and have significant impacts. However, it remains to be seen how the multipleelements to world climate will interplay in the coming years as globalwarming progresses. For instance, if the earth's warming leads to a landscapeconversion from dry soils toward a more lush forest vegetation type, thelower albedo of the darker vegetation would cause a net retention ofenergy. Light colored surfaces such as the light tan of a dry, dessert soilor the golden tan of annual grasslands during the summer have higheralbedos (approximately .3 from this data). As large areas of ice and snow are lost due to the earth's warming,the earth's albedo will likely decrease. Such events as a sudden melting of a polar ice sheet are likely due toa buildup of other factors over time that compound until a major breakingpoint is reached, causing a swift impact to global processes. The variations in albedo over the earth's surface, both between andwithin surface types, can lead to complex effects on the progression ofglobal warming. According to estimates, sea ice in the ArcticOcean is decreasing by approximately 14, square miles per year(Ecobridge) or 3% per decade (UNEP). Albedo is the percentage of incoming radiation reflected off a surface(USGS). Apr. Toanswer these questions, it is pertinent to first establish the relationshipbetween the earth's various surface types and their albedos and thendiscuss how this interplays with climate change. If this paper is not what you are looking for, you can search again: Search for: or Click here to request an essay written just for you.

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