Earth ID: 20022

Ice Albedo: Bright White Reflects Light

Animations by Susan Twardy Released on February 5, 2004

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.

Animation Credits

Susan Twardy (HTSI): Lead Animator
James Hansen Ph.D. (NASA/GSFC GISS): Scientist
Kathryn A. Stofer: Writer

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

Short URL to share this page:
https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/20022

Goddard TV Tape:
G2007-001HD -- NASA's HD Climate Change Resource Tape

Keywords:
SVS >> Albedo
SVS >> Byrne
SVS >> Global Warming
SVS >> Gonnelli
SVS >> HDTV
SVS >> Ice
SVS >> Melting
SVS >> Pollution
SVS >> Reflectance
SVS >> Soot
GCMD >> Earth Science
GCMD >> Earth Science >> Atmosphere >> Precipitation >> Snow
SVS >> Hyperwall
NASA Science >> Earth

GCMD keywords can be found on the Internet with the following citation: Olsen, L.M., G. Major, K. Shein, J. Scialdone, S. Ritz, T. Stevens, M. Morahan, A. Aleman, R. Vogel, S. Leicester, H. Weir, M. Meaux, S. Grebas, C.Solomon, M. Holland, T. Northcutt, R. A. Restrepo, R. Bilodeau, 2013. NASA/Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Earth Science Keywords. Version 8.0.0.0.0