The energy is reflected off the surface and leaves the atmosphere.
An increase in the amount of ice covering the Earth’s surface decreases the Earth’s temperature.
If this ice melts, the Earth’s temperature could increase..
In this model, an increase in cloud coverage decreases the Earth’s temperature.
The high-floating cloud coverage produced the greatest decrease in temperature.
Solar radiation is reflected by high floating clouds out of the atmosphere. Clouds do not interact with infrared radiation to cool the atmosphere.
Negative feedback causes the temperature to change the direction in which it was going, while the positive feedback continues to push the temperature further in the direction it was already going.
The 2005 photograph
Ice
…show more content…
With more ice, the sea surface is lighter (albedo is higher) and more solar radiation is reflected. As the ice continues to melt, the sea surface (darker than the ice) appears. This allows for solar radiation to absorbed. The more solar radiation that is absorbed, the more heat. The more heat, more ice melts. The more ice melts, the more solar radiation that is absorbed leading to more heat, leading to more ice melting.
On a scale from 1-5, I rate my prediction a 5 based on my explanation.
Higher albedo (lighter surface) reflects solar radiation. Lower albedo (darker surface) absorbs solar radiation. The absorption of solar radiation leads to an increase in temperature. The trend on the graph shows a decrease of ice in the Arctic.
The melting of Arctic ice is an example of a positive feedback.
As the ice continues to melt, the color of the sea surface changes. With more ice, the sea surface is lighter (albedo is higher) and more solar radiation is reflected. As the ice continues to melt, the sea surface (darker than the ice) appears. This allows for solar radiation to absorbed. The more solar radiation that is absorbed, the more heat. The more heat, more ice melts. The more ice melts, the more solar radiation that is absorbed leading to more heat, leading to more ice melting. The temperature continues to be pushed further in the direction it was already going, therefore why the arctic ice melting is a positive