albedo

albedo Definition

al·bedo (al bē′dō)

noun pl. -·dos or -·does

Astron. the reflecting power of a planet, satellite, or asteroid, expressed as a ratio of reflected light to the total amount falling on the surface
Physics the degree to which a surface reflects subnuclear particles, esp. neutrons, that strike it: expressed as the ratio of the number of particles that leave the surface in any direction to the number that strike it

Etymology: LL(Ec), whiteness < L albus, white: see elf

albedo Usage Examples

Converse of object

have: Secondly the clouds, which have a high albedo, can create a negative feedback helping to cool the forest area.
increase: This increases the daytime albedo but also increases the night-time heat retentivity of the atmosphere for an additional heat gain.
decrease: Additionally, soot from faraway sources has darkened snow and ice, further decreasing albedo.

Adjective modifier

low: The surface is covered with a darker material causing Hyperion to have a lower albedo compared to other icy moons.
high: Secondly the clouds, which have a high albedo, can create a negative feedback helping to cool the forest area.
global: Water formation as cloud droplets: Clouds are efficient cleansers of atmospheric pollution and clouds contribute to an increased global albedo.
geometric: The value of the geometric albedo of Mimas reported here, is definitely higher than the currently accepted value of about 0.5.
planetary: From the area of the planet, semi-major axis and amount of reflected light, the planetary albedos can be derived.
increased: Water formation as cloud droplets: Clouds are efficient cleansers of atmospheric pollution and clouds contribute to an increased global albedo.

Modifies a noun

effect: The combination of these two factors causes the greatest possible acceleration due to the albedo effect.
value: OK, let's start with the albedo value.
feature: The prominent markings seem to be only albedo features with very low relief.
change: A comparative study of the effects of albedo change on drought in semi- arid regions.
photon: At this point in the orbit the solar panels are orthogonal to the albedo photon flux, thereby presenting the maximum surface area.
flux: At this point in the orbit the solar panels are orthogonal to the albedo photon flux, thereby presenting the maximum surface area.

Noun used with modifier

surface: Kipp & Zonen Net Radiometers in use recording surface albedo at the Jornada test site, New Mexico, USA in May 1997.
percentage: Visible channels are percentage albedo and have values 0 to 100.

Possessives

earth: This could impact the global climate system through its effect on the carbon and water cycles and on the Earth's albedo.

Preposition: of

earth: This raised the albedo of the Earth, resulting in lower temperatures which maintained the snow cover.
%: A perfect mirror would have an albedo of 100 % while a black hole would have an albedo of 0 %.

Browse dictionary entries near albedo