Ice and snow albedo-temperature feedback

From Glossary of Meteorology



ice and snow albedo–temperature feedback[edit | edit source]

A positive feedback mechanism involving ice and snow cover, surface albedo, and temperature.

For example, given an initial warming, a decrease in snow and ice cover occurs, lowering the surface albedo. This causes an increase in the absorption of solar radiation, which amplifies the initial increase in temperature.


The ratio of reflected flux density to incident flux density, referenced to some surface.

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