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Cloud

Unit 6 - Atmospheric Systems & Societies

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Globe Showing Europe Africa

Unit 1 - Foundations Of Environmental Systems & Societies

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Herb

Unit 2 - Ecosystems & Ecology

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Flexed Biceps

Unit 3 - Biodiversity & Conservation

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Writing Hand

Unit 4 -Water & Aquatic Food Production Systems & Societies

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Deciduous Tree

Unit 5 - Soil Systems & Terrestrial Food Production Systems & Societies

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Thermometer

Unit 7 - Climate Change & Energy Production

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Briefcase

Unit 8 - Human Systems & Resource Use

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Bar-Chart

Internal Assessment

Alright, environmental enthusiasts, today we&#39;re diving into the mesmerizing world of clouds and a cool concept called &quot;albedo&quot;. Imagine you&#39;re looking up at the sky, gazing at the fluffy or wispy clouds. Ever wondered how they interact with the sun&#39;s rays or, more scientifically put, insolation? If not, get ready for a light (pun intended) bulb moment!

<ul>
	<li>Insolation: It&#39;s like the sun&#39;s VIP pass, short for &#39;incoming solar radiation&#39;. It&#39;s basically all the sun&#39;s energy that reaches our planet.</li>
	<li>Albedo: The solar version of a boomerang. It measures how much of that VIP pass (insolation) gets bounced back into space.</li>
</ul>

Different clouds play different games with sunlight, altering the albedo rate. For instance, cirrostratus clouds and cumulonimbus clouds don&#39;t share the same attitude towards sunlight.

<ul>
	<li>Cirrostratus clouds: These high-altitude, wispy clouds reflect around 44-50% of insolation. So, if they were students, they&#39;d be getting nearly a half score on the sun&#39;s test.</li>
	<li>Cumulonimbus clouds: Now, these are the sun&#39;s nemesis! Thick, towering, storm-brewing cumulonimbus clouds send about 90% of the sun&#39;s energy back to where it came from. So, they&#39;re like that strict teacher who rarely gives full marks!</li>
</ul>

Imagine you&#39;re at the beach on a scorching day. Suddenly, dark cumulonimbus clouds cover the sky. What happens? Yes, you&#39;ve got it! It cools down because these thick clouds are reflecting back a large amount of the sun&#39;s energy.

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Alternatively, have you ever noticed how a light, cloudy day can sometimes feel warmer than a clear, sunny day in winter? That&#39;s because cirrostratus clouds, with their lower albedo, allow more of the sun&#39;s heat to reach us while also trapping some of it!

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Keep in mind; clouds are not the only things affecting Earth&#39;s albedo. Snow, ice, forests, oceans, they all have their unique reflection rates. But that&#39;s a topic for another day.

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In essence, the game of light and shadow played in our atmosphere is a fascinating jigsaw puzzle, with each cloud contributing a unique piece. So, next time you&#39;re daydreaming, staring at the sky, remember the complex interplay between clouds and sunlight, and impress your friends with your cloud-albedo knowledge!

Mystery of Clouds & Earth's Albedo Unveiled

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Standard Level

Environmental Systems & Societies SL

Unit 6 - Atmospheric Systems & Societies

Mystery of Clouds & Earth's Albedo Unveiled

Table of content

Key terms

Unlock the Full Content!

Unit 6 - Atmospheric Systems & Societies

Mystery of Clouds & Earth's Albedo Unveiled

Table of content

Key terms

Unlock the Full Content!