Cloud Albedo

  • Released Friday, May 14, 2010
  • Updated Thursday, December 3, 2015 at 8:45AM
  • ID: 20025

Clouds greatly effect the earth's solar energy balance. Albedo, or reflectance, deflects a portion of the influx of solar energy from reaching our planet's surface. At the same time, a blanket of clouds insulates, preventing total loss of allthermal surface heat radiance out into space. This very important balance of energy is essential to our planet's ability to support life.


Credits

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


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