what is the amount of light energy reflected back into space called?
The FRACTION of light reflected back to space is called the albedo. The radiation itself would just be called the reflected radiation.
Be careful when using the word "light". It properly refers only to visible radiation between 400 and 700 nm in wavelength. Much (roughly 1/3) of the energy received from the sun is not visible. "Albedo" usually includes the fraction of the invisible radiation that is reflected in the near infrared and ultraviolet.
Ah, the amount of light energy reflected back into space! Well, that's what we call the "space flash". You see, it's like the sun giving a little wink and saying, "Hey, space, catch you on the flip side!" So, whenever light is reflected back into space, we can say it's performing the famous "space flash". Keep shining, space! 🌟
The amount of light energy reflected back into space is called the albedo.
The amount of light energy that is reflected back into space is called albedo. Albedo is a measure of a surface's reflectivity and is expressed as a percentage. A surface with high albedo reflects more light and has a higher percentage, while a surface with low albedo absorbs more light and has a lower percentage.
To find the specific albedo of a particular surface or object, scientists typically use remote sensing techniques and satellite observations. They measure the amount of reflected light and compare it to the total amount of incoming solar radiation. This allows them to determine the albedo value for that specific surface or object.
In Earth's case, the average albedo of the entire planet is about 30%, meaning that roughly 30% of the incoming solar radiation is reflected back into space, while the remaining 70% is absorbed by the Earth. However, the albedo can vary greatly depending on factors such as location, time of year, cloud cover, and the nature of the surface (e.g., snow, ice, forests, deserts, etc.).