snøalbedo

Snøalbedo refers to the albedo of snow. Albedo is a measure of how much light that falls on a surface is reflected back into space. Snow, especially fresh, clean snow, has a very high albedo, meaning it reflects a large portion of incoming solar radiation. This high reflectivity is due to the crystalline structure of snow and the presence of air trapped within it. Different types and conditions of snow have varying albedo values. Freshly fallen snow typically has an albedo of 80-90%, while older, more compacted, or dirty snow can have a significantly lower albedo. Impurities like dust, soot, or even algae can darken the snow surface, reducing its albedo.

The high snøalbedo plays a crucial role in regulating Earth's temperature, particularly in polar and alpine regions. By reflecting solar energy back into the atmosphere, snow cover helps to keep these areas cooler than they would be otherwise. This phenomenon is a key component of the ice-albedo feedback loop, where melting snow and ice exposes darker surfaces, which absorb more solar radiation, leading to further warming and melting. Conversely, increased snowfall can enhance cooling. Understanding snøalbedo is therefore important for climate modeling and predicting the impacts of climate change. Changes in snow cover extent and duration directly influence the amount of solar radiation absorbed or reflected by the Earth's surface.