Earth's albedo 30% reflected
Incoming solar radiation 100%
Top of. atmosphere
19% absorbed by atmosphere and -dflS clouds
Sfe :          51% absorbed at surface
##**•*-    ■
■ ■ ■ :■->
* ■ ■ ^1 ¥
■'.    "■        " ň'«ř-ň*-ií£j:k!."?--3.:
Figure 3.4   Approximately 30 percent of the solar radiation reaching the earth system is reflected or scattered back to space. The remaining 70 percent is absorbed within the atmosphere or at the surface.
Table 31
Typical Albedos of Terrestrial Materials*
Material
Albedo
Earth system as a whole Sand
Dense forest Field crops
Water (sun near horizon) Water (sun overhead) Fresh snow i c rete
30
25
8
25
40-75
85-95 20-30
*The albedo is the short wave energy reflection rate of an object or substance, stated in percent.
Physical Geography
Wavelength
105m-----------------
104m-----------------
103m-----------------
102m----------------
10m----------------
1 m----------------
0.1 m —100 mm-
0.01 m-10mm-
1 mm-
0.1 mm — 100 ^m 0.01 mm — 10,um
1 ßm — 10,000 Ä-0.1 /im —1,000 Ä-
100 Ä-j
10Á-
1 Ä-
J
Type of radiation
Long radio waves
Standard AM radio broadcasts
Short radio waves
Microwaves
TV broadcasts
F M radio broadcasts
TV broadcasts
*    *
Infrared radiation
.O.ľjum-;
Visible light
•0.4 /im-Ultraviolet radiation
JĽ
X rays
^
Red light
PP' Orange light
ti£P°v     Yellow light ■0.575 /im-
I Green light
vfer
y        Blue light
Violet light
Gamma rays
South Pole
Figure 3.3   Latitudinal variation in the terrestrial energy budget. The earth receives more energy from the sun than it returns to space equatorward of 38"; this situation is reversed poleward of 38°.
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