NASA Ice Albedo Movie
http://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/mpg/143489main_IceAlbeldo.mpg

NASA

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With an albedo of up to 80 percent or more, snow-covered terrain reflects most of the earth's incoming solar radiation back into space, cooling the lower atmosphere. When snow cover melts, the albedo drops suddenly to less than about 30 percent, allowing the ground to absorb more solar radiation, heating the earth's surface and lower atmosphere. This short animation demonstrates the effect of melting ice on albedo.

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This resource is referenced here:

• Cutting Edge:Topics:Climate Change:Visualizations: Impacts of Climate Change
• Cutting Edge:Topics:Climate Change:Visualizations: Energy Balance

Subject: Geoscience, Atmospheric Science:Climatology :Solar radiation, Global energy balance
Resource Type: Audio/Visual:Animations/Video
Theme: Teach the Earth:Incorporating Societal Issues:Climate Change, Teach the Earth:Course Topics:Atmospheric Science