Albedo

Albedo is a measure of how much something reflects light from the sun. This is often measured as a percentage.

In detail

Lighter-coloured things (such as clouds, snow and ice) have a higher albedo than dark things, and so tend to reflect a larger amount of light (and heat) from the sun. If a snow-covered area warms and the snow melts, the albedo decreases, more sunlight is absorbed, and the temperature absorbed increases.

• Table 2.1 provides a list of the constituents included, and not included, in the UKCP09 probabilistic projections. An example of how albedo influences climate projections is provided in Annex 3.3 of the UKCP09 Climate change projections report. 

Find out more

• IPCC Fourth Assessment Report, Working Group 1 report The Physical Science Basis , Chapter 2.5

• Last updated: Tuesday, 17 July 2012