Which among the following has the highest Albedo a) Lithosphereb) Atm...
The cryosphere is those portions of Earth’s surface where water is in solid form, including sea ice, lake ice, river ice. snow cover, glaciers, ice caps, ice sheets, and frozen ground. Snow has a high albedo.
View all questions of this test
Which among the following has the highest Albedo a) Lithosphereb) Atm...
Albedo:
Albedo refers to the measure of the reflectivity of a surface. It quantifies how much sunlight is reflected back into space compared to how much is absorbed. The albedo value ranges from 0 to 1, where 0 indicates complete absorption and 1 indicates complete reflection.
Lithosphere:
The lithosphere refers to the rigid outer layer of the Earth, including the crust and uppermost part of the mantle. It consists of various materials such as rocks, soil, and minerals. The albedo of the lithosphere varies depending on the type of surface. For example, the albedo of rocks can range from 0.05 to 0.40, while the albedo of soil can range from 0.10 to 0.30.
Atmosphere:
The atmosphere is the layer of gases surrounding the Earth. It consists of various components such as nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide, and water vapor. The albedo of the atmosphere is primarily influenced by the presence of clouds and aerosols. Clouds have a relatively high albedo, ranging from 0.30 to 0.90, depending on their thickness and composition. Aerosols, which include particles like dust and pollution, can also affect the albedo of the atmosphere.
Cryosphere:
The cryosphere refers to the frozen parts of the Earth's surface, including glaciers, ice caps, and sea ice. The albedo of the cryosphere is generally high due to its reflective nature. Fresh snow has one of the highest albedo values, ranging from 0.80 to 0.90, meaning that it reflects 80-90% of the incoming sunlight. Ice also has a high albedo, ranging from 0.40 to 0.70.
Hydrosphere:
The hydrosphere includes all forms of water on Earth, such as oceans, lakes, rivers, and groundwater. The albedo of the hydrosphere varies depending on the angle of the Sun, the presence of waves, and the amount of dissolved and suspended materials in the water. Generally, the albedo of water ranges from 0.05 to 0.10, meaning that it reflects only 5-10% of the incoming sunlight.
Conclusion:
Among the given options, the cryosphere has the highest albedo. This is because the frozen surfaces of the cryosphere, such as snow and ice, have a high reflectivity, leading to a higher percentage of sunlight being reflected back into space. This high albedo of the cryosphere plays a significant role in regulating the Earth's climate by reducing the amount of solar energy absorbed at the surface.
To make sure you are not studying endlessly, EduRev has designed UPSC study material, with Structured Courses, Videos, & Test Series. Plus get personalized analysis, doubt solving and improvement plans to achieve a great score in UPSC.