Which among the following has the maximum albedo?

[amp_mcq option1=”Vegetation” option2=”Concrete” option3=”Desert” option4=”Clouds” correct=”option4″]

This question was previously asked in

UPSC Geoscientist – 2021

The correct answer is Clouds.

Albedo is the measure of the reflectivity of a surface. Clouds, especially fresh, thick clouds, are very effective at reflecting solar radiation back into space and typically have a high albedo (ranging from 0.2 to 0.7 or even higher).

Other surfaces listed have generally lower albedos: Vegetation (like forests) typically has a low albedo (around 0.1-0.2) as it absorbs sunlight for photosynthesis. Concrete surfaces have moderate albedo (around 0.1-0.3). Desert surfaces (sand) can have moderate to high albedo (around 0.2-0.4) depending on the color and composition of the sand, but generally lower than bright clouds. Fresh snow has the highest albedo among natural surfaces, but it was not an option.

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