Which one of the following land surfaces has the highest albedo?

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A snow covered mountain

A barren rocky piedmont surface

A sandy desert

A mangrove forest

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This question was previously asked in

UPSC CDS-1 – 2022

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Albedo is a measure of the reflectivity of a surface. Surfaces with high albedo reflect a large proportion of incoming solar radiation, while surfaces with low albedo absorb more. Among the given options, a snow-covered mountain, especially with fresh snow, has the highest albedo (typically 80-90%). A sandy desert (20-40%), a barren rocky surface (variable, but generally lower than snow), and a mangrove forest (10-20%) have significantly lower albedos.

Fresh snow is one of the most reflective natural surfaces on Earth.

Albedo plays a significant role in climate and temperature regulation. High albedo surfaces reflect sunlight, helping to keep temperatures cooler, while low albedo surfaces absorb sunlight, warming the surface and the surrounding air. The ice-albedo feedback loop is a critical component of climate change understanding.

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