Which statement defines the albedo effect?

• A. The process of trapping heat in Earth's atmosphere by greenhouse gases
• B. The natural warming of the planet due to solar radiation
• C. The absorption of heat by the atmosphere
• D. The ability of a surface to reflect away solar radiation

Answer: (C)

Albedo is about reflectivity—the fraction of incoming solar radiation that a surface reflects back into space rather than absorbs. The albedo effect describes how this reflectivity influences surface warming or cooling: surfaces with high albedo, like fresh snow or ice, bounce much sunlight away and stay cooler; dark surfaces with low albedo, like asphalt, absorb more heat and warm up more.

So the best description is a surface’s ability to reflect solar radiation away. This is distinct from absorbing heat in the atmosphere or trapping heat with greenhouse gases, which are separate processes (greenhouse effect) and don’t define albedo.