Which of the following has the smallest albedo?
A) Water
B) Polar ice
C) Fresh snow
D) Dry sand

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Water generally has the smallest albedo among the options given. Albedo measures the reflectivity of a surface, with lower values indicating less reflection and more absorption of sunlight. Water, especially when it's not frozen or covered in ice, absorbs more sunlight compared to polar ice, fresh snow, and even dry sand, making it have a lower albedo. Fresh snow and polar ice have high albedos because they reflect most of the sunlight, while dry sand has a moderate albedo.

Which of the Following Has the Smallest Albedo