Ice Albedo: Bright White Reflects Light

  • Released Thursday, February 5th, 2004
  • Updated Wednesday, November 15th, 2023 at 12:23AM
  • ID: 20022

This animation provides a close perspective of the relationship between ice and solar reflectivity. As glaciers, the polar caps, and icebergs (shown here) melt, less sunlight gets reflected into space. Instead, the oceans and land absorb the light, thus raising the overall temperature and adding energy to a vicious circle.



Credits

Please give credit for this item to:
NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center Conceptual Image Lab