When solar radiation hits snow and ice, approximately 90% of it is reflected back out to space. As global warming
more snow and ice to melt each summer, the ocean and land that were underneath the ice are exposed at the Earth's
surface. Because they are darker in color, the ocean and land absorb more incoming solar radiation, and then release the
heat to the atmosphere. This causes more global warming. In this way, melting ice causes more warming and so more ice
melts. This is known as a feedback. According to a recent scientific study that used computer models to predict the
future of Arctic sea ice, there may be no more sea ice left in the Arctic Ocean during summer within the next few
decades.
If 1000 watts of energy per square meter hits an island covered in ice and snow, how much of it is reflected back into
space?
How would the amount of energy reflected back into space differ if all of that ice melted?
DED